Physicians Reference Lab develops commercial test for HPV

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. Physicians Reference Laboratory has developed a test to detect the human papillomavirus, the cause of nearly all cervical cancer, according to published reports.

The company said it would market the test under the name COMPLeTe Care HPV. The test enables early detection of and differentiation among all 15 high-risk types of HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer.

The new test was developed under the direction of Pradip Manna, director of molecular diagnostics for Physicians Reference Laboratory. Its ability to detect the genomic variants of each high-risk HPV type will help physicians manage patients’ risk of developing cervical cancer, according to the company.

“Women of all ages will benefit from COMPLeTe Care HPV,” Spencer Kerley, chief executive officer of Physicians Reference Laboratory, said. “In addition to early detection, type differentiation can lead to higher success rates for HPV vaccines.”