JV for cervical cancer screening

Cancer screening specialist Polartechnics (ASX:PLT) has joined up with newly listed molecular diagnostics company Genera BioSystems (ASX:GBI) and Gribbles Pathology, part of the Healthscope group (ASX:HSC), to commercialise a human papillomavirus (HPV) self-screening service.

The CerviScreen service will be aimed at the millions of women who do not have the recommended two-yearly Pap smear test. Up to 40 per cent of women do not have regular Pap smears, even if it is the best way to detect abnormal cervical cells, a potential marker for cervical cancer.

Under the service, women will perform their own vaginal swabs using Polartechnics’ Genswab collection device, which is then sent to Gribbles Pathology. Gribbles will test the swab with Genera’s PapType HPV detection and genotyping assay.

Genera’s test is able to detect which HPV type is present. Types 16 and 18 are the cause of 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

Polartechnics says the partnership is targeting the Australasian, south-east Asian and European markets, which have the potential for over $3.5 billion in revenue over five years.

Genera is also developing gonorrhoea and Chlamydia tests which could be added to the service in the future.

Polartechnics is re-establishing itself after several turbulent years, including a major stoush with an investor in 2005 and a slump in sales this year, partly due to quality issues with its Chinese manufacturing partner, which is making parts for its TruScreen real-time cervical screening product.

The company also manufactures MediScan, a clinical record and video imaging system, and SolarScan, for melanoma detection.