AIIMS Delhi Develops 2-Hour Low-Cost Cervical Cancer Test

New Delhi: A major revolutionary news for women’s healthcare, from doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, have developed a nanotechnology-based diagnostic kit. This kit is capable of sensing cervical cancer within two hours and it comes in less than ₹100.

Affordable and Available Screening

Traditionally cervical cancer has been diagnosed using HPV DNA testing and Pap smears, which require expensive infrastructure and yield results only after several days. Machines used for these tests can cost upwards of ₹30 lakh, and patients often wait for days to receive results.

The newly developed AIIMS test kit offers a stark contrast:

• Budget-friendly: Under ₹100, in compared to ₹2,000–₹3,000 at AIIMS and ₹6,000 at private hospitals
• Rapid results: Delivers accurate results within two hours
• User-friendly: Requires no high-end machinery, suitable for primary health centres and usage by ASHA workers and nurses

Proven Accuracy and Recognition

The kit has been tested on 400 patients, display 100% accuracy in detecting high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), the important cause of cervical cancer.

The revolution has already earned the Best Innovation Award at the National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) 2025, along with a ₹6 lakh cash prize. It has also drawn curiosity from scheme capital investors, leading the way for possible commercialization and broader deployment.

Collaborative Effort

The discovery was led by Dr. Subhash Chandra Yadav, Additional Professor in the Electron and Microscope Facility, Department of Anatomy. Key collaborators include Dr. Neerja Bhatla (former Head of Gynecology), Jyoti Meena, Shikha Chaudhary, and Pranay Tanwar.

Public Health Implications

Cervical cancer remains a serious public health challenge in India, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas. The AIIMS test kit promises:

• Early detection locally, without the need for tertiary-level hospitals
• Swift diagnosis, enabling faster initiation of treatment
• Possibly saving thousands of lives every year through early involvement

The kit also supports WHO’s goal of expanding HPV detecting and cervical cancer prevention in low- and middle-income countries.

Summary

With its low cost, fast results, and high accuracy, the AIIMS cervical cancer test kit demonstrates the effect of Make-in-India medical innovations. Experts say it has the potential to transforms cervical cancer detecting in India, particularly in regions lacking advanced healthcare organization.