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OncQuest launches new tests covering grey areas in cancer biology

Our Bureau, MumbaiMonday, April 20, 2009, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

After building trust with its innovative diagnostic tools, OncQuest Laboratories Ltd - the pioneer and the leader in the Indian Oncology clinical testing market, announced expansion of its test-range with the launch of new tests covering grey areas of cancer biology. These tests will include a variety of innovative tools for screening, diagnosis and prognostication of infectious agents including HIV (Kaposi's Sarcoma) & Hepatitis (Hepatocellular Carcinoma). As part of this announcement, OncQuest will now also be offering five new tests: Real Time Qualitative PCR for HIV, Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C; Real Time Quantitative PCR for HIV, Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C; Elisa for HIV, Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C; Elisa for Tumor Markers i.e. CA19.9, CA-125, CA-15.3, CEA, AFP, PSA etc; and Allele - specific PCR for K- ras & Reverse Transcriptase PCR for inversion 16. Speaking on the launch occasion, Aditya Burman, GM, OncQuest Laboratories said, "OncQuest has always led the Indian Oncology medical testing domain with its cutting-edge diagnostics technology. On proving our expertise in the sector, we are now touching the grey areas in cancer biology. These tests are in sync with company's plan to expand the horizons of its services to the mankind and help them with the correct diagnosis leading to correct and timely treatment. In the pilot phase of these tests, we have decided to collect samples from the patients' doorstep in metro cities." Vivek Trikha, head - Diagnostics, OncQuest Laboratories said, "Based on our long existence in the niche space, we understand the need for an extensive diagnosis in these critical areas. There have been un-touched grey areas that are a reason of concern for the mankind. These tests are result of extensive research done at our in-house laboratory and are an endeavour to promise accuracy in diagnosis of infectious diseases, which are causative agents of cancer. Our new tests will be a useful resource for the clinicians, helping them make critical decisions on therapeutic front. They will be able to monitor drug response in a better way and thus, modify the therapy based on test results." These new tests will benefit the clinicians since they will be able to assess disease severity & predict the line of treatment accordingly to make critical decisions. Using these new tests, clinicians can measure minimal residual disease 'MRD' i.e. a residual after the patients have been on treatment & to check for the relapse of the same. These tests will be available at all the servicing centre of OncQuest including 45 major towns in India, Colombo and Kathmandu. OncQuest's new technologically advanced clinical and research laboratory is fully equipped with molecular technologies allowing for rapid advancement in the complex field of theranostics, pharmacogenomics, proteomics, bioinformatics & biomarker studies.

 
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