Indigenous HPV Test Validated as Low-Cost Tool for Cervical Cancer Screening

An Indian-developed point-of-care HPV test, Truenat HR-HPV-Plus, has successfully met international performance standards for cervical cancer screening. A multinational validation study published in the International Journal of Cancer confirmed the assay’s effectiveness, marking a milestone for affordable diagnostic tools in resource-constrained environments like India.

The study demonstrated that the indigenous platform achieved 80.4 per cent sensitivity and 91.5 per cent specificity in detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, a crucial precursor to cancer. By utilizing WHO-recommended criteria, researchers at institutions such as AIIMS Delhi and the ICMR have shown that local diagnostic platforms can match the accuracy of global gold-standard tests, potentially reducing the need for costly, sophisticated laboratory infrastructure.

With cervical cancer accounting for approximately 127,000 new cases and 80,000 deaths in India annually, experts highlight that this low-cost, scalable solution could significantly expand screening access. The validated test is expected to facilitate earlier detection and better follow-up procedures, aligning with global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer by prioritizing screening for women aged 30 to 64, especially in district-level healthcare facilities.