India unveils indigenous HPV tests to strengthen cervical cancer screening

New Delhi: In a significant advancement for women’s healthcare in India, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, officially launched indigenously developed HPV test kits for cervical cancer screening at a high-profile event in Delhi recently.

The launch marks the successful culmination of the national program titled “Validating Indigenous Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Tests for Cervical Cancer Screening in India”, a strategic initiative supported by GCI-BIRAC-DBT. The program was designed to create cost-effective, accurate, and accessible diagnostic solutions tailored to India’s public health needs.

Two indigenously developed HPV test kits—by Mylab Discovery Solutions and Molbio Diagnostics—were validated through multicentric clinical studies conducted across leading research institutions in India. Both kits demonstrated robust performance, making them suitable for large-scale deployment under national screening programs.

Among the validated kits, Mylab’s Pathodetect HR HPV Hi-Res DNA test, designed to run on its automated Compact platform, enables high-throughput, accurate screening that can be scaled across healthcare settings, including primary care facilities. The kit was noted for its integration of automation and ease of use in decentralized environments.

Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among Indian women, and India accounts for one of the highest global burdens. The availability of validated, indigenous HPV testing solutions is a major milestone toward enhancing early detection and prevention strategies.

Mylab’s RTPCR-based HPV diagnostic test kit offers rapid, point-of-care testing capabilities, critically important for deployment in various healthcare settings, particularly in underserved areas where access to advanced laboratory facilities may be limited.

Health experts present at the launch emphasized that these diagnostic breakthroughs, spearheaded by Mylab’s innovation, will significantly enhance India’s diagnostic capabilities, especially at primary healthcare facilities where early detection can dramatically improve treatment outcomes and survival rates.

The domestically produced test kits are expected to be deployed through national healthcare programs, with officials suggesting this could fundamentally transform cervical cancer detection and management in the country. The successful development and validation of these kits also represents a major step forward for India’s healthcare self-reliance initiatives.