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| Authors: |
Dr. Olivera Markovic, Dr. Nenad Svetomir Markovic. R&D, BioSciCon, Inc., Rockville, MD |
| Abstract: |
INTRODUCTION:
The MarkPap® test, a new improved biomarker-based assay for
cytological cervical cancer screening was introduced to the
Experimental Biology audience in 2004. In clinical trials, this test
was found to be more sensitive and with less false negatives than
the control Pap test. The biomarker is amenable for digital imaging
and we have developed a prototype of a device to exploit on this
characteristic and to explore whether human participation could be
efficiently replaced with electronic communication technology for
the purpose of mass cervical cancer screening.
METHOD:
We developed a prototype of a device--composed of biomarkerbased
cytology and digital imaging included into an IT
communication network—serving, at the input side, the providers
of specimen image files and, at the output site, the image
evaluators (result providers). We tested our IT communication
protocol, and began developing a diagnostic protocol.
RESULTS:
The striking improvement was achieved with the time reduction
between specimen arriving in the laboratory and providing the
final results from a remote site. The time for specimen staining,
screening, image and demographic data collection, filing a series
of typical abnormal images into case folders, forwarding those
folders to the central processing unit, alerting the examiners, login,
reviewing the folders, consulting other experts if necessary, writing
case reports and reporting the results back, could be achieved for
approximately two hours per evaluation of an abnormal slide.
CONCLUSION:
This result indicates that using IT technology for
telecytopathology–based cervical cancer screening could transform
the current practice into a same-day pap test—a huge improvement
in time and cost of labor.
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