Human
papillomavirus (HPV) causes more than 600,000 new cancer cases in women and
70,000 in men every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The
same organization reports that cervical cancer, which develops from HPV
infection, was the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in 2022. Latin
America and the Caribbean have the second highest prevalence of cervical HPV
infections in the world, after Sub-Saharan Africa.
Early
detection is essential, but current testing methods have several drawbacks. The
most common is the Pap smear, which requires a pathologist and is subject to
medical interpretation. Additionally, it may cause side effects such as
bleeding and abdominal pain, as it involves a biopsy. The second method is the
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which requires a laboratory, trained
personnel, and costs over $17 USD (approx. €15.20).
After
conducting a research residency, biotechnologist Elda Flores (Mexico, 32)
developed a new test based on Polymerase Spiral Reaction (PSR) technology. This
method is isothermal (operating at 60°C), sensitive, portable, and
colorimetric. Most importantly, it does not require specialized lab equipment,
enabling timely, simple, and preventive diagnosis, with results visible via a
color change in under one hour. “The main
goal of the DiX-HPV test is to provide women with a non-invasive option they’re
not afraid to use, since many avoid medical testing due to negative experiences
or cultural taboos,” Flores explains.
This new
system is not only less invasive and faster, but also significantly more
affordable, with an approximate cost of $8 USD (around €7.15), cutting PCR
testing costs in half. With a
Bachelor’s degree in Genomic Biotechnology and a PhD in Molecular Biology and
Genetic Engineering from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (Mexico), Elda
Flores is deeply committed to improving women’s health, especially for those
without access to medical equipment or traditional testing methods.
“My
personal mission is to support women and to use my knowledge to develop tools
that enhance their quality of life. Implementing this test could significantly
improve women’s well-being by preventing the development of cervical cancer.
This is especially critical for low-income women living in underserved, remote
areas without medical centers or the financial means to access HPV screening,”
she explains.
The DiX-HPV
test will begin distribution in Mexico in the coming months. The research
behind it has been submitted to the international scientific journal Pathogens
and is currently under peer review, pending publication. Flores already has
dozens of publications in peer-reviewed journals to her name.
She hopes
that the test can reach remote regions lacking specialized hospitals through
partnerships with foundations, NGOs, and public health institutions. She is
also exploring distribution through private laboratories, hospitals, and
gynecologists interested in adopting the solution.
The DiX-HPV
test has earned Elda Flores a place among the 35 Innovators Under 35 selected
by MIT Technology Review in Spanish. The PSR technology on which the test is
based is one of the latest advancements in molecular biology. Currently, there
are no commercial products using this method—DiX-HPV would be the first.
