19th Dec 2011 07:00
19 December 2011 Source BioScience plc ("Source BioScience" or the "Company") NHS publishes Implementation Guidelines for Source BioScience's Automated Cervical Cancer Screening Technology
Cervical Screening Wales are first in the UK to adopt the new technology
Source BioScience , the international diagnostics and genetic analysis business, is pleased to announce that the National Health Service Cancer Screening Programmes (`NHSCSP') has published its guidelines for the use of the BD FocalPoint technology for cervical cancer screening in the UK.
Following the publication of the guidelines, Cervical Screening Wales (`CSW') announced their commitment to implement the technology across Wales from 1 January 2012, the first screening service in the UK to introduce automated imaging into the cervical cancer screening programme. The agreement to provide the BD FocalPoint to CSW is worth up to £0.6 million to July 2015.
The BD FocalPoint is the only automated technology for cervical cancer screening approved for use by the NHS and is able to analyse and identify up to 25% of screening samples that can be reported as "all clear", requiring no manual examination. With over 3.6 million tests being undertaken across England and Wales during 2009/10, this represents a significant reduction in laboratory workload and the need for additional staffing and outsourcing. It will also help laboratories achieve the mandatory 14 day screening deadline for patients to receive their test results promised to patients under the Department of Health's Cancer Reform Strategy.
Dr Nick Ash, CEO at Source BioScience, commented: "The publication of the implementation guidelines enables us to facilitate the introduction of automated imaging to the NHS standards across England and Wales. There has been considerable interest in adopting the technology from a large number of NHS Trusts looking to improve screening turnaround times even further and we're delighted to announce that Cervical Screening Wales are the first screening service to adopt the technology in the UK."
He added: "Source BioScience is now able to provide customers with a unique and complete solution for cervical cancer screening from sample collection, processing, imaging and diagnostic testing, including HPV testing."
Bryan Rose, Head of Programme for Cervical Screening Wales said: "We are pleased to be the first service to formally adopt the BD FocalPoint system for the application of "No Further Review" (`NFR') in the cervical screening programme in Wales. CSW has run an independent assessment of the technology which has led us to recognise for some time the benefits of using automated imaging for cervical screening. Following recognition in the MAVERIC study of its utility and the recent publication by the NHSCSP of specific guidelines for the use of BD FocalPoint technology, which establishes best practice, we can now confidently implement the technology into our screening programme. The technology will assist our laboratories to improve turnaround times within our defined standards and enhance the quality of service that we provide for women in Wales."
Hilja Ibert, VP GM BD Diagnostic Systems Europe commented: "The implementation of BD FocalPoint is a direct outcome of our focus on improving health outcomes for patients by providing laboratories with solutions that improve quality, inform medical decisions and enhance laboratory system productivity. We continuously invest in developing innovative solutions and technologies that will further support and enhance the cervical cancer screening programs. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Source BioScience in the UK, for their expert support and distribution of these technologies and the rapid implementation of BD FocalPoint NFR."
--ENDS--
For further information, please contact:
Source BioScience plcDr Nick Ash, CEOTel: +44 (0) 115 973 9010
Email: [email protected]
www.sourcebioscience.com
College Hill (PR Agency to Source BioScience)
Melanie Toyne Sewell/ Jayne Crook
Tel: +44 (0)207 457 2020
Mob: +44 (0)7890 022814 / +44 (0)7979 462044
Email: [email protected]
About Source BioScience:
Source BioScience plc is an international diagnostics and genetic analysis business serving the healthcare and research markets. The LifeSciences division provides core laboratory research support from conceptualisation to implementation, calling upon a wide range of cutting-edge technology platforms including an online catalogue of biomolecular tools. The Company is a trusted provider of a complete range of sophisticated microarray, next generation and conventional sequencing services. GLP, GCP and CPA accreditations make the sequencing offerings also very attractive for applications in regulatory studies or clinical settings. Its Healthcare operations provide screening and reference laboratory diagnostic testing for cancer and other diseases and additional predictive testing for treatment optimisation for clinicians and patients. The Group has its headquarters in Nottingham, UK. Further information about Source BioScience can be found at www.sourcebioscience.com
About BD:
BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com
About BD SurePath and BD FocalPoint:
The BD SurePath liquid based cytology test is one of the two technologies approved for use in the UK in the screening and detection of cervical cancer. The BD SurePath test is distributed in the UK by Source BioScience. The BD FocalPoint is an automated imaging technology intended to assist in cervical cancer screening of BD SurePath liquid based cytology test slides. It uses complex algorithms to interpret images of each slide and decide the ten "field of view" most likely to have any abnormal cells. It can archive up to 25% as "No Further Review" (`NFR') which then do not need to be screened manually. The BD FocalPoint is the only automated technology for cervical cancer screening approved for use by the NHS and is distributed in the UK by Source BioScience. For more information, please visit healthcare.sourcebioscience.com/cytology
XLONRelated Shares:
SBS.L