Made-in-India HPV test emerges as low-cost tool for cervical cancer screening

Truenat HR-HPV-Plus is a new indigenous HPV test that meets International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) standards for cervical cancer screening. According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, this low-cost tool targets seven to eight high-risk HPV types to improve early detection in India.

Why is the Truenat HR-HPV-Plus test significant?

The test is the first formally validated reduced-valency HPV assay of its kind. It satisfied all IARC reduced-valency and non-inferiority validation criteria, according to the June study.

Researchers reported the test demonstrated 91.5 per cent specificity and 80.4 per cent sensitivity. These figures apply to the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse, which is a key precursor to cancer.

Validation for the tool relied on cervical samples from the ESTAMPA study. That multi-centric programme screened 44,135 women between the ages of 30 and 64 across Latin America from 2012 to 2022.

Did You Know? Global statistics indicate that eight out of 10 women will contract the human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lives.

How does cervical cancer affect women in India?

More than 480 million women in India are at risk of contracting the virus and developing cervical cancer from high-risk HPV strains. The disease accounts for an estimated 127,000 new cases and roughly 80,000 deaths annually in the country.

HPV DNA Testing: The New Standard in Cervical Cancer Screening

Dr. Neerja Bhatla, Professor Emeritus at the National Cancer Institute, AIIMS, Jhajjar, told PTI that thousands of women are diagnosed late. She noted that screening often fails to reach women in the right setting or at the right time.

High costs and laboratory infrastructure requirements have historically limited the adoption of HPV tests in middle-income countries. Long turnaround times and follow-up challenges also hinder screening efforts.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the shift toward “reduced-valency” assays represents a critical trade-off. By focusing on the most aggressive HPV types rather than every single strain, health systems can potentially lower costs and increase the volume of women screened without sacrificing clinical utility.

What could happen with the adoption of this test?

The higher specificity of Truenat HR-HPV-Plus may reduce unnecessary referrals and follow-up procedures. This could make the tool a scalable and cost-effective option for India and other low- and middle-income countries.

Increased accessibility may help women follow World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. The WHO suggests women undergo screening twice, at ages 35 and 45, using validated tests to eliminate cervical cancer.

Because nearly all cases are caused by HPV, wider use of early screening, vaccination, and timely treatment of precancerous cells is likely to reduce the number of fatal delayed diagnoses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Truenat HR-HPV-Plus?
It is an indigenous, low-cost HPV test that has been formally validated to target seven to eight high-risk HPV types according to IARC criteria.

Who should undergo cervical cancer screening?
Dr. Neerja Bhatla stated that women above the age of 30 must undergo screening to reduce their risk.

What are the WHO guidelines for HPV testing?
The WHO recommends that HPV testing is the preferred method to eliminate cervical cancer, suggesting screenings at age 35 and 45.

How can healthcare systems better encourage women to seek early screening for preventable cancers?