Q-Pad is a new menstrual pad that can be used twice during menstruation to help remove the barriers of traditional pap smear testing
Biotechnology company Qvin has secured approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Thailand for its Q-Pad technology. Q-Pad is claimed to be the first and only menstrual blood diagnostic device. It has been designed to provide an accessible and non-invasive way to screen for High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and increase early detection between physician visits.
Qvin stated that Q-Pad is a new menstrual pad that can be used twice during menstruation to help remove the barriers of traditional pap smear testing, which can be hard to access, expensive and time-consuming.
The new diagnostic device was initially developed to identify biomarkers for HR-HPV. It has now been expanded to identify additional biomarkers and test for inflammation, blood sugar, fertility hormones, thyroid and ovarian reserve.
Q-Pad comprises a removable cotton strip that is sent to a lab for clinical testing. Users receive their laboratory results in the Qvin app.
Qvin CEO and co-founder Dr Sara Naseri said, “Receiving FDA approval in Thailand is exciting and contributes to our vision of a world where women do not die from cancers, like cervical cancer, that are entirely preventable if caught early.”
The company secured the approval in Thailand in partnership with N Health Laboratories and Bangkok Health Research Center (BHRC).
BHRC intends to conduct a 1,500-person comparative study using Q-Pads and PAP smears on HR-HPV.