Perceptronix's First ClearSign(TM) Lung Cancer Testing Facility
Vancouver, Canada (ots/PRNewswire)
Perceptronix Medical Inc.
("Perceptronix") announced today that it has opened its first sputum
induction facility at MDS Metro Laboratory Services' Victoria Drive
Patient Service Centre in Vancouver. This facility will be the first
centre to offer sputum induction for Perceptronix's ClearSign(TM)
Sputum Test ("ClearSign(TM)").ClearSign(TM) is a simple, non-invasive, early detection test for lung cancer. The test recently received Health Canada approval and is the first lung cancer test to be approved in North America.
ClearSign(TM) is performed on sputum - the material brought up from the lungs after a deep cough - collected using an induction procedure where coughing is induced by breathing salt water vapour. Sputum samples are analyzed by Perceptronix to yield a ClearSign(TM) score which indicates the likelihood that an individual has lung cancer, similar to other cancer detection tests such as the Pap test for cervical cancer or the PSA test for prostate cancer.
"We are pleased to be able to provide a convenient location to facilitate sputum collection and analysis, and expect this collection site to be the first of many across Canada that will offer this service," says Dr. Bojana Turic, Perceptronix's Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer.
Lung cancer is a prevalent form of cancer in both men and women and results in the greatest number of cancer related deaths worldwide. In 2002, 1.35 million people were diagnosed with lung cancer and approximately 1.2 million people, or 18% of the world's cancer deaths were as a result of lung cancer. Early detection of cancer is key to a positive outcome. Patients diagnosed with stage I lung cancer have a 70% five year survival rate, which is significantly higher than the 10% survival rate among those diagnosed with stage III lung cancer or worse. The ClearSign(TM) test offers physicians a new tool to determine the likelihood their patient harbours lung cancer, even before obvious symptoms are evident.
About Perceptronix suite of technologies
Perceptronix's suite of technologies and laboratory services is designed to approach cancer diagnosis comprehensively through early detection, localization, diagnosis and follow-up. The first of Perceptronix's technologies to receive regulatory approvals are:
- ClearSign(TM) Sputum Test - This test is used for early lung cancer
detection. ClearSign(TM) has a Health Canada license and CE Mark;
- ClearCyte(TM) Test - This test is used to measure "gross genomic
aberrations" (DNA Ploidy) to assist physicians with clinical
diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. ClearCyte(TM) has a Health Canada
license and CE Mark;The Perceptronix Clinical Quantitative Cytology Laboratory in Vancouver, Canada currently performs the ClearSign(TM) Sputum Test and the ClearCyte(TM) Test. This laboratory operates under guidance and accreditation from the Diagnostic Accreditation Program of the British Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
About Perceptronix Medical Inc. (www.perceptronix.com)
Perceptronix is a private, cancer diagnostics company based in Vancouver, Canada. Perceptronix commercializes early cancer detection technologies developed in partnership with the BC Cancer Agency (www.bccancer.bc.ca), a world-leader in cancer care and research and a pioneer in early cancer detection programs.
This news release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, an advertisement, solicitation or offering of securities of Perceptronix Medical Inc. The statements made in this news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations.
Contact:
For further information: Lydia Taylor, Director, Business
Development, Perceptronix Medical Inc., Phone: +1-604-629-8785,
info@perceptronix.com; Media Contact: Don Bradley, James Hoggan &
Associates Inc., Phone: +1-604-739-7500, Mobile: +1-604-961-3883,
dbradley@hoggan.com