What is cervical cancer?
According to the worldwide statistics,
| a woman dies of cervical cancer in every minutes* | |
| a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer in every eight seconds# |
According to HKCaR’s statistics, cervical cancer is fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. From 2018, cervical cancer has caused over 2.7%+ of female cancer deaths. Studies states that over 90-91% cervical cancer are infected by HPV *. If we wish to prevent cervical cancer, we must understand the main cause and factors of cervical cancer.
More than 90-91% of cervical cancers are infected by HPV
The medical profession has confirmed that almost all cervical cancers (90-91%) are caused by persistent infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Compared with low-risk HPV, persistent infection with high-risk HPV causes cervical cancers. The chance of causing cervical cancer is at least 30 times higher*. Therefore, we must first understand the cause of cancer before prevention of cervical cancer.
HPV Assessment Test are still necessary after taking HPV vaccines
According to World Health Organization’s cancer categories, HPV can be categorize as highly efficacious and low efficacious. High risk HPV is cervical cancers main cause; low risk HPV will cause genital warts.
After injecting vaccine, it is still possible being infected by HPV and causing serious cancers. Regular HPV assessment test is the only effective way to prevent cervical cancer.
USFDA approves HPV DNA assessments as cervical cancer’s first prevention
Cervical cells will mutate within a few years after infection and mutate to cervical cancers. Doctors can evaluate mutating cells and conduct early treatment to prevent cervical cancer. HPV DNA screening can discover early stage HPV virus, confirm which cells is infected by HPV before mutation. HPV screening is extremely effective to prevent cervical cancer.
Pangenia HPV DNA screening test covers all HPV infection type
Pangenia provides the most comprehensive HPV test in Hong Kong. In addition to covering more than 200 rare HPV genotypes, 33 common clinical HPV genotypes will also be specially identified. Among the high-risk types, in addition to the most widely recognized genotypes 16, 18, the coverage also includes another 17 high-risk virus genotypes, such as the most popular genotypes 45, 52, 58 in Hong Kong.
Pangenia HPV DNA screening effectively decreases cervical cancer assessment’s false negative rate.
Although Pap test has been adapted and proved success of screening cervical cancer for years, its false negative rate is still a major concern. From statistics, nearly 1/3 cervical cancer patient resulted in false negative rate. Pangenia HPV DNA genetic screening sensitivity reaches 98% which provide a more accurate screening. Therefore, the most effective method of preventing cervical cancer is to regularly carry out both HPV DNA screening test and Pap test.
What are sexually transmitted diseases?
Sexually transmitted disease (STDs), commonly known as venereal diseases, are infections that are spread primarily through person-to-person sexual contact including vaginal, anal and oral sex. The organisms causing STDs can also be spread through non-sexual means such as blood transfer. Common STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoeae, hepatitis B, HIV, HPV, HSV2 and syphilis—can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. Around one million people worldwide develop sexually transmitted diseases every day, and most of them do not have any symptoms at an early stage.
More than half of those tested for STDs were infected with a single and multiple disease sources. During the incubation period, the source of STDs will be easily transmitted to sexual partners, thus causing multiple infections.
What causes the sexually transmitted diseases?
Chlamydia can survive for about 30 hours and invade the body through mucous membranes. Not only will it affect the sexual organs and reproductive system which causes pain, but it may also spread to other organs, resulting in complications, infertility and even death.
Ninety percent of women with chlamythetic infection and fifty percent of men with chlamythetic infection do not appear with significant symptoms in the early stages. STD pathogens such as Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma Genitalium, Urealyticum, Ureaplasma and Herpesgenitalis usually lurk for a long time before the disease develops. People infected with such STDs will unconsciously transmit the pathogens to their sexual partners during this incubation period.
What happens if sexually transmitted diseases are not treated?
People tend to overlook the asymptomatic pathogens when they’re co-infected with symptomatic ones. While the ones with symptoms are treated, the asymptomatic ones are usually left unnoticed, leading to serious consequences, e.g., premature labour, still-births, pelvic inflammatory disease, prostate cancer, eye infection in new-born baby, infertility etc. If not treated properly, some STIs can lead to serious health problems and increase your chances of getting HIV by 300 times#.
What is the test for?
This test detects a wide range of STD pathogens (including Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, HSV1/2, HPV 6/11) with the use of PCR and “Flow through” hybridization.
HPV DNA and STD pathogens Self-Collection
| The Pangenia self-collection kit allows female to collect sample cells themselves. | |
| The kit uses the Evalyn Brush from Netherland. It has been adapted and currently used worldwide for years. | |
| The design is innovative. It is proven safe, secure, accurate and user-friendly. | |
| The Pangenia self-collection kit does not require any medical professional in assist and still remain its accuracy. |
Test Specifications
| Test Code | Content | Methodology | Specimen Requirements | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHH | HPV DNA 33 types Genotyping | DNA Flow-through hybridization | Self-sampling device | 3 working days |
| ISP | 9 STD pathogens (Self-sampling) Including: TV,CT,NG,MG, MH, UU/UP, HSV 1/2 |
DNA Flow-through hybridization | Self-sampling device | 3 working days |
| ISH | HPV DNA 33 types Genotyping and 9 STD pathogens | DNA Flow-through hybridization | Self-sampling device | 3 working days |
Reminders
| If the cervical brush have any damage on the packing or the date expires, please do not use. | |
| Avoid using virgin oriented products 2 days before collection. Condom and lubricant are fine. | |
| Avoid sexual contact 24 hours before sample collect. | |
| It is not recommended to collect sample during period. | |
| Please do not use during pregnant. | |
| Each brush is for one-time collection only, please avoid repeated usage. Repeated usage may lead to diagnostic error and serious infection. |
Reference
- * http://globocan.iarc.fr/old/FactSheets/cancers/cervix-new.asp
- # https://www.analcancerfoundation.org/about-hpv/hpv-facts-and-figures/
- + https://www.chp.gov.hk/tc/healthtopics/content/25/56.html