Worldwide, cervical cancer affects nearly 500,000 women annually and, after breast cancer, is the second-most-common malignancy found in women. Cervical cancer is caused by "high-risk" types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which are sexually transmitted. It's estimated that 80 percent of women will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives. However, in most cases, the infection goes away or is suppressed by the body without causing problems. It is only infections that persist that can cause abnormal cells to form that may develop into cervical cancer if not detected and treated early. One report from the World Health Organization estimates that only about 5 percent of women had been screened for cervical disease in the previous five years, compared to 40-50 percent in the developed world.
About PATH (www.path.org)
PATH is an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. By collaborating with diverse public- and private-sector partners, PATH helps provide appropriate health technologies and vital strategies that change the way people think and act. PATH's work improves global health and well-being. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA, PATH has 29 offices in 18 countries. PATH currently works in more than 65 countries in the areas of health technologies, maternal and child health, reproductive health, vaccines and immunization, and emerging and epidemic diseases.
About QIAGEN (www.qiagen.com)
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company, is the leading provider of innovative sample and assay technologies and products. QIAGEN's products are considered standards in areas such as pre-analytical sample preparation and assay solutions for life sciences, applied testing and molecular diagnostics. QIAGEN has developed a comprehensive portfolio of more than 500 proprietary, consumable products and automated solutions. The company's products are sold to academic research markets, leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, applied testing customers (such as in forensics, veterinary, biodefense and industrial applications) and molecular diagnostics laboratories. QIAGEN products are sold through a dedicated sales force and a global network of distributors in more than 40 countries; the company employs more than 2,600 people worldwide. Further information about HPV DNA testing specifically can be found at www.theHPVtest.com.
Web site: http://www.thehpvtest.com
http://www.qiagen.com
http://www.path.org
Pam Rasmussen, +1-240-506-0766, Pamela.Rasmussen@digene.com, or Thomas Theuringer, +49-2103-29-1826, Thomas.Theuringer@qiagen.com, both of QIAGEN (formerly Digene), or Sue-Lane Wood, PATH, +1-206-310-9121, suelanewood@path.org
