The Delhi based molecular diagnostics tests company, Dabur OncQuest, has announced its first ever project with an aim to offer cost-effective monitoring therapy for selected patients of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) in the domestic market. The company will perform the BCR/abl translocation Quantitative tests by Q PCR technique. A third party administrator identifies the patients through the referring clinicians.

BCR/abl Q PCR is the test indicated to measure the drug response in CML cases. The test is an accurate indicator of how the patient is responding to the treatment and indicates the future course of treatment modalities. In the current scenario, a patient needs to undergo a test available at varying costs from Rs 200 to Rs 25,000 depending upon on the prescribed technology. These tests are to be done in four regular intervals. Under this new project, the customers will get the premium testing technique which is available at Rs 6000. Moreover, two among the required four tests will be free. The tests thus, will now cost half their actual cost of the package which was earlier available for Rs 24,000 (test conducted four times) will now be available for Rs 10,200. To tap it all, Dabur OncQuest will provide free pick and drop facility to its clinics across its centres at 42 cities all over the country.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Vivek Trikha, head, Dabur Diagnostics said, "Our company continues to work towards the application of real time technologies to perform sensitive tests. Under this new package which is in line with OncQuest's mission to continuously evolve and develop cost effective testing technologies. The patients under our pilot project have appreciated our effort to provide them the best of the services at the most affordable price".

Aditya Burman, general manager, Dabur Pharma says, "OncQuest has always concentrated on providing the latest and most pioneering technologies for Oncology testing in India. We have hitherto set benchmarks for Cancer diagnostics using our unique technologies. We are delighted to extend our services for the first time to reach our end-users, benefiting them with our advanced economical packages, filling a gap in diagnosis and prognosis of CML world-wide. With this, OncQuest lives up to its mission of introducing scientifically advanced cost effective molecular diagnostic algorithm".

The company has developed its unique techniques after a sequence of research in their laboratory. Deciphering the accurate applications of real time technologies to unleash new tests forms an integral part of OncQuest R&D team. The team of scientist has recently introduced tests such as: imatinib drug resistance mutation analysis by PCR & restriction analysis, Jak2 Mutation analysis by PCR and CML break point analysis

It also offers other tests include real time PCR/Q PCR - (DNA/RNA evaluation), Nested RT PCR - (DNA/RNA evaluation Qualitative), Cytogenetics: (Chromosome evaluation), fluorescent in situ hybridization - fish (Chromosome evaluation), flowcytometry: (Evaluation of blood/Bone marrow) and Oncopathology and Immunohistochemistry (IHC Evaluation of tissues) at its various centres.