April 25, 2025 – The machine that was used during the COVID-19 pandemic to detect the coronavirus will now be used in India to detect cervical cancer. The Biotechnology Department of the Central Government has announced this indigenous testing technique which has been named Truenat HPV-HR Plus.

The kit is designed to give highly accurate results in just 60 minutes. It is easy to use and optimised for use at both the lab and near-patient settings.

The Truenat HPV-HR Plus technology was developed under Grand Challenges India. It is a chip-based RT-PCR test and can identify eight high-risk genotypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus. The virus accounts for more than 96 per cent of cervical cancer cases in women globally.

This is another important accomplishment of Indian scientists after the new blood test developed by the doctors of Delhi AllMS for cervical cancer patients.

A blood test developed recently by Delhi AlIMS can tell whether the treatment is having an effect on the patients or not. This test can replace the expensive and traditional painful tissue biopsy, which is currently being used to monitor cases related to cervical cancer. In this test, tumour cells are analysed through blood samples. This process is also helpful in detecting the disease at an early stage.

About 25 per cent of the total global cases of cervical cancer are in India. With more than 1.23 lakh new cases and about 77,000 deaths every year, it is the second most common cancer among Indian women. Doctors believe that this disease can be prevented with timely detection.

With Media Inputs