Approximately 41,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) in the UK each year, and over 90% of cases are treated successfully following early detection. Diagnosis of CRC is normally achieved by colonoscopy; however, UK endoscopy resources are stretched to breaking point.
In February 2018, Bowel Cancer UK reported findings for compliance to standard waiting times. Every month during 2017, an average of almost 3000 patients per month were waiting longer than six weeks for endoscopy. Over 2000 patients suspected of having cancer are waiting longer than two weeks for an urgent referral.
In 2017, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the Diagnostic Guidance 30 (DG30). This supports the adoption of a faecal immunochemistry test (FIT) as a decision-making tool to support referral criteria in primary care. The high negative predictive value (NPV) of FIT indicates that a patient is highly unlikely to have CRC. DG30 reports that by adopting FIT, 75% of referrals from primary care for suspected CRC can be avoided.
OC-Sensor, manufactured by the Eiken Chemical Company and distributed in the UK, France and Germany by the Mast Group, is a quantitative FIT platform that is simple to use, with options that are scaleable to meet individual laboratory needs. OC Sensor is the only quantitative FIT assay with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. With approximately 250 supporting publications, OC Sensor has been adopted for laboratory use and CRC screening programmes in over 42 countries.
Key to this success is the OC Sensor sample collection device, which has been engineered to ensure unparalleled patient usability, analytical precision and functionality in the laboratory. With over 75 million samples distributed annually, OC Sensor is ideal for patient sample collection at home. The user-friendly and innovative sample tubes have led to an increase in participation rates and patient compliance, and therefore the efficacy of FIT testing.
Offering two dedicated platforms, the OC-Sensor technology can be integrated easily in any laboratory; OC-Sensor Pledia can process up to 320 samples per hour, while OC-Sensor iO can process up to 88 samples per hour. OC Sensor instruments are fully automated, simple to use and require almost no hands-on time to run and maintain. With ready-to-use reagents, onboard QC monitoring and sample analysis software, implementing the OC sensor could not be simpler.
Are you FIT for the future? Adopt OC-Sensor, the clear path to an effective, efficient service.