US researchers are developing technology that could lead to the early detection of cervical cancer with low-cost, easy-to-use, lateral flow test strips similar to home pregnancy tests.

“This field really needs an additional way to test for cervical cancer. A test that can report cervical cancer right away is very instrumental in a lot of low- and middle-income countries where women often get HPV tests and then never come back,” said Prof Joseph Irudayaraj, professor of biological engineering in Indiana’s Purdue University. “In higher-income countries, it’s important that anything beyond HPV tests have the ability to complement those tests.”

The Purdue researchers’ technology is attempting to detect cervical cancer in its early stages with a specialised test strip resembling a home pregnancy test, with unparalleled sensitivity. The technology works by changing the strip’s colour within 15-30 minutes to indicate the presence of specific proteins associated with cervical cancer.

Researchers have proven the concept and are working on an early prototype of the technology. In addition to cervical cancer, researchers believe this technology could one day be instrumental in early detection of other diseases as well, including infectious pathogens.