Both WHO and the Department of Health recommend HPV test. HPV urine test can indicate cancer risk as well?
2023-07-18
The Department of Health (DH) reminds adult women who ever had sex to receive regular cervical cancer screening to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. Starting from April, women aged 30 to 64 attending the DH's cervical screening service will receive HPV testing which has a higher sensitivity as the primary approach of cervical screening.
Mentioning HPV testing, many may have experienced discomfort with cervical or penile swab tests and were deterred from doing regular HPV tests. However, you might not be aware that urine samples can also be a feasible method for HPV testing.
Why choose HPV DNA testing as the primary cervical cancer screening method?
To understand how we can detect cervical cancer risk earlier, it’s crucial to know how Human Papillomavirus (HPV) contributes to cervical cancer. According to WHO, over 95% of cervical cancers are caused by high-risk HPV subtypes. When healthy cervical cells are infected with HPV, it can lead to mild cell changes (CIN1). If the infection persists, these abnormal cells can progress to more severe precancerous lesions like CIN2 and CIN3, which, if left untreated, may eventually develop into cervical cancer.
Traditional Pap smears involve laboratory personnel examining cells under a microscope to detect abnormal changes in the cervix (CIN1 to CIN3). HPV testing, on the other hand, primarily detects the presence of HPV virus in the sample, allowing for an earlier assessment of cancer risk before precancerous changes occur. Acknowledged by both WHO and the Department of Health, HPV testing with its higher sensitivity is now considered the frontline defense against cervical cancer.
How can urine samples be used for HPV testing?
Unlike Pap smears, which focus on cell examination, HPV testing targets the HPV virus in the sample. Vaginal secretions contain potential HPV viruses, and these are carried away when women urinate. Therefore, urine samples containing these secretions can be used for HPV testing. However, urine somewhat dilutes the HPV virus in secretions, resulting in lower levels of the virus compared to other bodily fluids like blood.
Empowered by the patented PHASiFY technology for urine DNA concentration, INDICAID™ HPV Urine Test addresses the issue of accuracy in urine samples. The test concentrates and purifies HPV virus DNA in urine samples, overcoming the limitation of liquid-based samples. With just about 100ml of urine sample, sufficient material is collected for testing. Moreover, there is 98.9% urine test accuracy agreement with HPV cervical / penile swab tests with patented PHASiFY technology. The unique PHASiFY™ technology enhances the detection capability of urine samples, surpassing the industry's gold standard by more than tenfold, thereby elevating the sensitivity and accuracy of testing.
INDICAID HPV Urine Test (with Report)
INDICAID HPV Urine Test is an accurate, private and easy-to-use cervical cancer screening test that detects the presence of HPV. Empowered by the patented PHASiFY technology for urine DNA concentration and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), the test can detect 27 types of HPV (14 high-risk HPVs and 13 low-risk HPVs) in urine samples, providing you a more efficient, convenient, and comprehensive analysis of your cervical cancer risk.
- • Lower the risk of developing >95% of cervical cancer
- • Non-invasive, private, easy-to-use
- • Suitable for men & women - protect yourself and your partner
- • Sample pick-up / drop-off service
- • Test report in 5 working days
- • Complimentary Pap smear test when high-risk HPV detected
