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Diagnostic Breakthroughs

No area of medical innovation has so revolutionized pathology as molecular medicine. It is transforming both diagnostic technology and treatment. The era of personalized medicine is here. Biomarkers allow pathologists to guide therapy to specific subpopulations of patients where specific targeted therapies have been proven to be most effective. And Path Logic is proud to be at the vanguard of these important new medical breakthroughs, applying them for our patients in the screening of cervical cancer and other diseases.

HPV testing

One of the most widespread implementations of molecular medicine involves testing in women’s health. PAP smears have been crucial to cervical cancer screening for many years. Now the PAP test is being paired with molecular tests for human papilloma virus (HPV), which is the cause of most cervical cancer.

Path Logic is at the forefront of this screening technology, employing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based molecular platform for HPV testing. This is the industry gold standard and the one used by manufacturers to gain FDA approval. It is simply the most sensitive and specific HPV technology available, allowing for the identification as well as genotyping of all types of HPV infection.

This molecular technology has allowed Path Logic to remain at the cutting edge of cervical cancer screening. For example, new studies (April 2009) have recently reported that identifying certain specific HPV types such as 16 and 18 have significant clinical implications. Patients infected with these HPV types require greater medical supervision and follow-up, as they are at greater risk of developing aggressive cervical cancer.

Path Logic began reporting these hazardous HPV types to its participating physicians a year earlier, beginning back in March, 2008. This is a clear example of how choosing the right technology pays off for labs, clinicians, and, mostly importantly, for patients. It also exemplifies why Path Logic is so committed to technological innovation. Conventional technology, while widely used, is simply unable to detect these HPV types.

Another breaking development is the potential risk of persistent so-called low risk HPV types. None of these are identified by most common lab tests for HPV, but recent research is finding that they may be harmful. Path Logic’s leading-edge HPV testing identifies and reports these as well.