Strand Diagnostics LLC, Indianapolis, maker of the know error® system for breast and prostate biopsies, and Manhattan Labs, New York, a clinical laboratory serving Manhattan and the tristate area, have joined forces to offer the [removed]myPAP™ test[/removed].

strand diagnosticsDeveloped to complement a Papanicolaou (Pap) test by confirming a patient’s identity and helping physicians to proceed confidently with treatment recommendations, the myPAP test compares the DNA profiles of the Pap specimen with a reference DNA sample taken via cheek swab at the time of the Pap test.

This state-of-the-art testing is available exclusively for Manhattan Labs’ customers who perform Pap testing—and,  other labs can refer testing to Manhattan Labs.

“If it’s caught early, cervical cancer is treatable and curable,” says Lawrence J. Levitan MD, a New York City OB/Gyn. “However, cancer treatment can be life-altering, so it is imperative that we ensure we are providing treatment to the right patient at the right time. The myPAP test will allow us to easily provide this confirmation before any surgical intervention and treatment takes place.”

Cervical cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death, claiming the lives of 275,000 women across the globe annually. Approximately 55 million Pap tests are performed annually in the United States to detect the presence of dysplasia or cancerous cells on the surface of the cervix.

Pap testing can include up to a 20-step process from the time when the specimen is collected to when lab results are completed. Anywhere along this pathology testing cycle, a specimen identification error can occur. The myPAP test uses patient-specific bar coding and forensic chain-of-custody principles for the purpose of reducing errors, and advanced DNA testing (also known as DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment or “DSPA” testing) to match test results with the right patient so as to avoid adverse patient outcomes.

“At Strand, we have applied our historical competency as a forensics lab to help more than 100,000 individuals with a positive test result confirm that this result really is their result,” says  Ted Schenberg, CEO. “Using the know error system has helped protect patients from undetected misidentification issues which studies have shown occur in as many as 3.5% of the cases. We commend Manhattan Labs for having the foresight to understand the benefits of introducing DSPA testing to a new group of individuals undergoing Pap testing, utilizing the myPAP test.”

[Source: Strand Diagnostics, Manhattan Labs]