Summary
A recent 90,000 patient, randomized Dutch study published in the Journal of American Medicine's October 28 issue found that liquid-based cytology is not superior to conventional Pap methods in sensitivity and specificity for cervical cancer detection. There are two leading US companies that provide liquid-based sample collection, transport and processing systems for cervical cancer screening.
Analysis
A new Dutch study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's October 28 issue calls into question the superiority of liquid-based cytology over conventional papanicolaou (Pap) methods. This is a significant, randomized clinical study involving approximately 90,000 women. Liquid-based cytology sample collection, preservation and processing systems have virtually replaced conventional sample collection and processing techniques in several markets.
For those not familiar with this issue, the conclusions of this study compare the preanalytical methods of liquid-based cytology with those of conventional methods that rely on the clinician to prepare and preserve the cervical sample for transport prior to analysis. Liquid-based cytology samples are uniformly prepared at the site where the cytological analysis takes place, usually a large hospital or commercial reference lab such as Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp (NYSE: LH) and Bio-Reference Labs.
This new study should receive a response from the two leaders in liquid-based cytology, which are Hologic and BD. Given the numerous advantages of liquid-based cytology over convention preanalytical methods and its ubiquitous use in several markets, it will need to be seen how they will respond to the Dutch study findings.
For more information on liquid-based cytology, the companies mentioned above and the $52 billion dollar clinical diagnostics market, please contact your GLG representative and schedule an individual consult today.
