Abbott has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its molecular human papillomavirus or HPV screening solution, adding a powerful cancer screening tool for detecting high-risk HPV infections to the Alinity m family of diagnostic assays.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), HPV infection is extremely common – most sexually active adults will experience an HPV infection at some point in their lives. There are many different strains of HPV, each with a unique genetic signature or genotype. Specific genotypes of HPV can cause cancer, including cervical cancer in women. Historically, Pap tests were used to screen for cervical cancer, but today professional guidelinesii recommend testing for HPV infections, called primary screening, over Pap testing as the best way to screen for cervical cancer. However, some commonly used HPV tests are not approved for primary screening and only deliver limited information regarding which of the many different genotypes of HPV are present.
The Alinity m high risk (HR) HPV assay is approved as a test for HPV detection and for use in routine cervical cancer screening as per professional medical guidelines. The assay is also approved for use in combination with a Pap test, for patients and physicians who prefer to use both tests, called co-testing. Importantly, the Alinity m HR HPV assay delivers information on five risk groups covering the 14 different potentially cancer-causing genotypes of the virus, helping physicians identify not just if a patient has an HPV infection but whether that infection is caused by one (or more) of the types that may cause cancer.
"Professional guidelines are clear in their recommendation to shift away from Pap tests in favor of clinically validated, primary HPV testing as the best way to detect risk of cervical precancer and cancer," said Mark H. Stoler, M.D., professor (emeritus) of pathology and clinical gynecology at the University of Virginia. "As more women are vaccinated against the highest risk strains of the virus, it continues to be important to screen women for other HPV strains that have the potential to cause cancer. Extended genotyping enables us to improve risk assessment and tailor follow up for patients so we can minimize unnecessary treatment while still guarding against cancer development."
"HPV testing is a powerful tool for detecting HPV infections that can lead to certain cancers, including cervical cancer and illustrates the power of molecular diagnostics in infectious disease," said Keith Cienkus, vice president of Abbott's molecular business. "The Alinity m HR HPV assay was carefully designed to support patient care and streamline HPV testing."
