Canada OKs Early Lung Cancer Test

Perceptronix said Monday it has been granted approval in Canada for its ClearSign Early Lung Cancer Test

The company said it got approval in May to market the diagnostic device in Europe.

The test works by measuring DNA in thousands of lung cells collected from induced sputum, or the fluid from a deep cough, and is designed for use on patients who are already suspected of having the disease due to a history of heavy smoking, have been exposed to an industrial carcinogen, or have had an indicative imaging result.

ClearSign helps identify who should be further evaluated via more conclusive tests like bronchoscopy or radiography.

The clinical trial results show that, unlike many of the other lung cancer detection technologies, ClearSign Sputum Test sensitivity is virtually independent of tumour stage (early versus late), location (peripheral versus central airways) and cancer histological type (squamous cell versus adenocarcinoma or small cell cancer), said Roger Kemp, Perceptronix’s director of detection products.