Qiagen will provide its diagnostic tests for the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the primary cause of cervical cancer while CNCI will conduct the screening and provide appropriate treatment as needed.
The ‘QIAGENcares Kolkata project’ will use Qiagen’s hybrid capture 2 HPV DNA testing technology to screen women for cancer-causing types of HPV to identify those with or at risk for developing cervical cancer. Participating women will also be screened using visual inspection with acetic acid as per the Indian national guidelines for cervical screening.
Screening will take place at community-based mobile field clinics in the villages neighboring Kolkata. Women found to have cervical cancer or precancer will be immediately treated at the field clinic or referred to the CNCI for follow up.
The project also includes educational campaigns to raise awareness about HPV, cervical cancer, and other women’s health issues. The initiative will be conducted over five years and is expected to reach 50,000 women.
Peer Schatz, CEO of Qiagen, said: “Through the QIAGENcares Kolkata collaboration we will increase awareness about cervical cancer prevention and make screening more accessible, two vital ingredients in the effort to reduce cervical cancer rates. Also, we are looking forward to demonstrating the combination of cost effectiveness and enormous value for healthcare that Qiagen’s cervical cancer screening solutions can bring to a setting such as the one in Kolkata.”