Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-run PT Bio Farma (Persero) has made a diagnostic tool that uses the latest technology to detect cervical cancer using urine samples, which, it claims, would make testing more comfortable than a conventional pap smear.

“We have already prepared the kit. The test can be done easily," President Director of the pharmaceutical company Honesti Basyir informed here on Tuesday.

A Pap smear is a cytology test in which cervical cells are collected from the cervix and examined under a microscope.

The examination is conducted by anatomical pathologists in a laboratory, who determine whether the sample contains pre-cancer or cancer cells.

A Pap smear can also be used to detect any infection or inflammation of the cervix.

"There may be those who do not like pap smear or swab," he informed.

"However, this new technology can just use urine, which may encourage many people to undergo diagnostic (tests) to see whether they are vulnerable to cancer or not," he said.

The company’s early detection tool for cervical cancer can be used by all people in the productive age.

"People can buy them. If there are government programs, they can participate or they wish to participate," he said.

If the tool is utilized in government programs, there will be certain conditions or some waiting time, Basyir added.

"This tool can be used in all diagnostic laboratories that collaborate with Bio Farma," he said.

Basyir shared his plans to have the tool distributed to all Bio Farma laboratories starting January 2023. As of now, the production of the new tool is still on.

"The tool actually already exists, but we conduct a few tests with the Ministry of Health first to obtain more accurate data," he informed.

Related news: Bio Farma, MSD cooperate for HPV vaccine production in Indonesia
Related news: Gov't shows resilience in handling cervical cancer through vaccination









Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022