Trovagene Inc, San Diego, introduces its urine-based HPV-HR (high-risk) assay, a molecular human papillomavirus (HPV) test that identifes the presence or absence of 15 known high-risk HPV strains using proprietary DNA sequences.
The Trovagene HPV-HR DNA test is a noninvasive option that may improve the adoption and acceptance rate of HPV testing, according to the company.
“The launch of our urine-based HPV-HR DNA test represents an important milestone for Trovagene,” says Antonius Schuh, PhD, CEO “Noninvasive carrier testing may help to increase awareness of HPV status and could reduce the incidence of HPV-related cervical cancer and other cancers worldwide.”
Approximately 20 million Americans carry HPV, with six million new cases occurring every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By the age of 50, 80% of all women will have had exposure to HPV at some point in their lives. In 2012, the US Preventative Task Force recommended HPV DNA testing as a mandatory part of the cervical cancer screening guidelines to help diagnose a greater number of women and thereby reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer. Currently, less than 40% of women undergo HPV DNA testing in conjunction with a standard Pap smear or liquid cytology sample.
[Source: Trovagene]
