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Nymox Saliva Test Found to Be Useful

Posted on: Thursday, 20 September 2007, 09:00 CDT

Biopharmaceutical company Nymox Pharmaceutical has announced the publication of an independent study reporting positive data on the accuracy and usefulness of its Saliva NicAlert test for tobacco exposure in a family practice setting.

Saliva NicAlert results using saliva samples tested on-site closely matched those obtained by much more expensive and complex testing technology using urine samples sent off-site to an independent reference laboratory. Saliva NicAlert was able to correctly identify smokers who reported being nonsmokers but were ascertained to actually be smokers based on the reference laboratory liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy results.

The paper, "Validation of self-reported smoking status using saliva cotinine: A rapid semiquantitative dipstick method," is in the current issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, published by the American Association for Cancer Research and is co-authored by principal investigators, Dr Norman Montalto and Dr Wayne Wells, both physicians with interest and expertise in the field of tobacco use and dependency. The studies involved 172 patients aged 6 to 80 at family practice medical clinics supervised by Dr Montalto and Dr Wells.

Brian Doyle, senior manager for Saliva NicAlert said: "It is widely believed that physicians should routinely verify the smoking status of every patient. There are many situations where an accurate and convenient on the spot test is particularly important, such as preoperative assessment, allergy and pregnancy clinics or when prescribing oral contraceptives. Saliva is easy to obtain and having immediate results gives the clinician a powerful tool to counsel patients."

Source: Datamonitor

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