A Multiplexed Human Papillomavirus 16 and 18 Diagnostic Chip for Cervical Cancer in Limited-Resource Settings

Abstract 16PurposeDespite being treatable, cervical cancer is responsible for 300,000 deaths annually and is the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The burden of cervical cancer disproportionately falls on developing countries, where 87% of deaths occur from limited or no resources for screening. Of cervical cancer cases, 99% are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), with more than 70% of cases from HPV genotypes 16 and 18. We developed a low-cost cervical cancer diagnostic chip to detect HPV 16 and 18 DNA quickly and reliably in limited-resource settings (LRSs).MethodsUnlike conventional HPV diagnostics that use polymerase chain reaction and resource-intensive equipment, our chip used isothermal—one temperature—amplification, specifically loop-mediated amplification, and required only a heat source, which made it suitable for LRSs. Amplified DNA was visually detected on a lateral flow strip, which is similar to a pregnancy test, providing a simple yes or no readout. Specific li...