BD and Techcyte announce strategic collaboration to offer AI-based digital cervical cytology system for pap testing
AI-based algorithm aims to enable cytotechnologists and pathologists to efficiently identify evidence of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions, using AI-based digital cervical system for pap testing.
30 Jan 2024
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, and Techcyte, a world leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital diagnostics, has announced a strategic collaboration agreement to offer an AI-based algorithm that guides cytologists and pathologists to efficiently and effectively identify evidence of cervical cancer and precancer using whole-slide imaging.
The agreement enables BD to deliver a solution that aims to reduce the potential for human error and enable greater throughput, so that labs can achieve their results with greater standardization, reproducibility, and efficiency from a Pap test, also known as a Pap smear.
Traditionally, Pap tests have been conducted by taking a sample from a patient and placing it on a glass slide that is visually evaluated by a cytotechnologist or pathologist using a microscope. With the digital cervical cytology system, the samples can be scanned, converted to a digital slide image, and then reviewed on a computer monitor in a lab or from a remote location. In addition, the digital cervical cytology system uses an AI-based algorithm to prioritize and present clinically relevant cells for visual evaluation.
The Techcyte platform is compatible with the most common liquid based cytology (LBC) preparations, including BD SurePath™ Liquid-based Pap Test vial and aims to be compatible with several of the most-used whole-slide imagers on the market.
Globally, cervical cancer kills more than 340,000 women annually. It is the fourth most frequently observed cancer in women, and its high mortality rate could be reduced through a comprehensive approach that includes effective screening. Although the guidance within health care is shifting to recommending HPV screening as the primary test for cervical cancer, Pap tests will continue to play an important diagnostic role, as programs are transitioning to the new standard of care and in looking for precancer and cancer when a high-risk HPV infection is detected. One in 10 HPV tests are positive and positive results are then referred to a Pap test for visual inspection of cells.