Oxford Uni spinout presents bowel cancer test at Medica
Oxford MEStar – an Oxford University bioengineering spinout company – is showcasing digital faecal occult blood testing devices to enable early bowel cancer identification from the ABHI UK Pavilion at Medica.
Originally formed by scientists from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Oxford University, measure Bowel Health is the company’s first product in a series of digital handheld diagnostic tests.
The device uses patented technology originating from research carried out over ten years at the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford, to detect the early signs of bowel conditions including cancer.
The measure bowel health test is sold as a self-testing device, designed to be used in the privacy of one’s own home. As well as showcasing this pioneering device at Medica, Oxford MEStar will also be launching a new version of the product, measurePRO, aimed at the professional primary care market.
Oxford MEStar’s business development manager, Dr. Simon Bayly, said: “Our in-vitro diagnostic device works on a patented electrochemical technology, which converts the presence of blood in stool into a measurable electrical signal, increasing the chances of catching bowel cancer early on, when the chances of a positive outcome are highest.
“We are proud of our continued R&D work in developing new products and are excited to be joining the ABHI UK Pavilion this year and launching our new professional testing kit at Medica. Bowel cancer causes 16,000 deaths in the UK every year and over half of cases are preventable, so it’s vital to support the work of early diagnosis and treatment.”
Compared to traditional faecal occult blood tests, which utilise either guaiac paper or immunochemical lateral flow tests, Oxford MEStar’s technology makes use of an electrochemical technology to analyse the peroxidase activity from blood present in stool samples. The new technology allows the test to be performed in under a minute.
The use of a patented electrochemical technology spells a step change in the way bowel cancer has previously been diagnosed.