New Low-Cost HPV Test Shows Promise for Cervical Cancer…

New Low-Cost HPV Test Shows Promise for Cervical Cancer Screening in Resource-Limited Settings TALMedora Health Desk Women's Health | Cervical Cancer | Public Health A new international study has identified an affordable point-of-care HPV test that could help expand cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries, where access to laboratory infrastructure remains a major challenge. Researchers found that the Truenat HR-HPV-Plus assay, developed in India, demonstrated strong accuracy and reliability while requiring fewer resources than conventional screening technologies. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer. Researchers estimate that approximately 95% of cervical cancer cases are linked to eight particularly high-risk HPV types: 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58. The World Health Organization recommends HPV testing as the preferred method for cervical cancer screening because it can detect women at risk before cancer develops. However, many existing HPV tests are expensive, require advanced laboratory facilities, and may not be practical for widespread use in resource-constrained settings. Researchers from India, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and multiple international institutions evaluated four HPV detection assays designed for use in low-resource environments. The study analyzed 1,159 cervical samples collected through the ESTAMPA cervical cancer screening program in