Research Confirms TruSreeen Suitability in COVID-19 Environ

NZX Announcement

24 March 2021

RESEARCH CONFIRMS TRUSCREEN CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING DEVICE SUITABLE FOR USE
IN A COVID-19 ENVIRONMENT
Cervical cancer screening company, TruScreen Group Limited (NZX and ASX:TRU) (Truscreen or
Company), is pleased to report that its TruScreen cervical cancer screening device continues to gain
recognition around the world. The WHO strategy names the measurable global targets to prevent
and treat cervical cancer: 90–70–90 by 2030: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by 15
years of age; 70% of women screened using a high‐performance test by age 35, and again by age 45;
90% of women identified with preinvasive and invasive cervical cancer effectively managed
1
. These
ambitious goals require innovative technologies.
Covid-19 pandemic added further threat to health systems around the world: e.g., severe hospital
capacity constraints, issues with infection control and the under-diagnosis of cancer.
Researchers in China explored the impact of using TruScreen cervical cancer screening device in the
absence of colposcopy and PAP facilities and commented on the limitations of HPV testing and
colposcopy under Covid-19 conditions
2
.

In a Covid-19 affected hospital and healthcare facilities:
• laboratory infrastructure can be overwhelmed due to refocusing on Covid-19 and not on HPV
testing.
• cervical cancer screening may need to be isolated from other clinics/hospital infrastructure, as
patients with cancer are more vulnerable to Covid-19 infection.
• Medical resources are overwhelmed and redirected as HPV testing and colposcopy have to be
conducted by qualified professionals.
• HPV testing and colposcopy expose women and the healthcare professionals to a greater
likelihood of Covid-19 infection as the examination increases doctor/patient interaction time
than a TruScreen examination.

In contrast, TruScreen device:
• is portable and reduces the time for doctor/patient interaction, reducing the risk of Covid
infection for women and healthcare professionals.
• does not burden the existing healthcare infrastructure and can be set up outside of hospital and
clinical facilities.

• is easy to train on and does not require doctors to perform the examination.
• there is no handling and collection of tissue samples, reducing the infection risks and costs.
• is a valid method for screening of women who are HPV positive especially in regions where
cytology and colposcopy are not readily available.

Researchers concluded that TruScreen cervical cancer screening system is a non-invasive screening
method, that can be used to identify cervical lesions quickly and is especially suitable as a triage tool
for HR-HPV-positive women facing Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure and infection risks in the hospital
setting.


-ENDS-

For more information, visit www.truscreen.com or contact:

Juliet Hull
CEO
Juliethull@truscreen.com




Guy Robertson
CFO
guyrobertson@truscreen.com





References:
1. The International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Princess Nothemba Simelela; First published: 02 December 2020,
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13484 “WHO global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem: An opportunity
to make it a disease of the past”.
2. FUTURE ONCOLOGYVOL. 17, NO. 10, Ziyao Wang et al, https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/fon-2020-0928
“TruScreen detection of cervical tissues for high-risk human papillomavirus-infected women during the COVID-19 pandemic”.

About TruScreen:
TruScreen cervical cancer screening device offers the latest technology in cervical screening,
providing real-time, accurate detection of precancerous and cancerous cervical cells to help improve
the health and well-being of women around the world.
TruScreen’s real-time cervical cancer technology utilises a digital wand which is placed on the surface
of the cervix to measure electrical and optical signals from the surrounding tissues. A sophisticated
proprietary algorithm framework is utilised to detect pre-cancerous change, or cervical intra-
epithelial neoplasia (CIN), by optical and electrical measurement of cervical tissue.
TruScreen offers an alternative approach to cervical screening, resolving many of the ongoing issues
with conventional Pap tests, including failed samples, poor patient follow-up, patient discomfort and
the need for supporting laboratory infrastructure. As such, TruScreen’s target market is low and
middle-income countries where no large-scale cervical cancer screening programs and infrastructure
are in place, such as China, Mexico, Africa, Russia, and India. TruScreen’s cervical cancer screening
device is CE-marked and certified for use throughout Europe and NMPA (formerly CFDA) approved
for sale in China. The global market potential for TruScreen is significant.