Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, claiming 250,000 to 300,000 lives each year. Of the 500,000 new cases per year identified, 80% occur in developing countries, according to the Institut Pasteur.
The WHO states that screening and treatment to prevent cervical cancer is still a global priority and it is pushing ever harder on the diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes the infection that leads to cancer. There is interest in early detection of HPV because the earlier the treatment is performed, the more effective it is. But a major challenge remains: getting women to take the test. Some women feel embarrassed during gynaecological examinations, especially because of cultural or religious values.
It is in this context that V-Veil-Up Production launches V-Veil UP2, a selfsampling veil for the detection of HPV/ papillomavirus and STDs. Simple and safe, it respects the privacy of all women while offering unequalled efficiency: it doubles the detection capacity of genomes compared to conventional methods, according to a study conducted by the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, while the concept has been tested, validated and approved by hospital’s professor Laurent Belec.
Simple and efficient
Inserted in the vaginal cavity thanks to an applicator, the vaginal veil collector V-Veil UP2 is able to collect secretions, various fluids and substances found in the vagina and on the cervix.
The secretions and DNA are very easy to attach to it: a woman only has to wait for two minutes before removing the veil and inserting it in a transport tube. It will then be sent to a laboratory for PCR-type molecular analysis. It can detect possible high-risk and low-risk genomes and thus allow for rapid intervention. The V-Veil UP2 Vaginal Veil Collector was first tested on 256 women in Chad (while more than 98% of deaths due to the disease occur in countries with low economic resources, 90% are located in sub-Saharan Africa) in order to compare the classic method – with the sampling carried out by the gynaecologist – and the system of selfsampling with the V-Veil UP2 Vaginal Veil Collector.
The results speak for themselves:
- 97.1% acceptance rate.
- Nearly doubled detection capability of high-risk oncogenic papillomaviruses (HR-PHV) by multiplex real-time PCR compared to standard swab sampling by a gynaecologist or nurse.
- Detection in one 1 of 8 women of 12 times more oncogenic HPV-HR.
V-Veil-Up Production has been producing the V-Veil UP2 Vaginal Veil Collector since 2020 and has a worldwide agreement with a PCR machine manufacturer to supply the product. A kit suitable for all national cervical cancer detection campaigns, with the Vaginal Veil Collector V-Veil UP2, its transport tube and all the necessary regulation, can be sent by mail. The kit is:
- Very practical for NGOs that organise HPV screening campaigns across Africa, especially those located in Muslim communities – the sample can be taken by the woman alone or accompanied (e.g. by a midwife).
- Suitable for laboratories that wish to save money, with fewer staff required because there’s no need for a gynaecologist to do the test.
- The only self-testing system with scientific studies that show such good results, with or without a doctor.
The origin of this discovery
Bernard Chaffringeon is a French inventor, holding more than 150 patents, and a company director. He founded V-Veil-Up Production in 2019. He is the originator of patents for the V-Veil-UP2 self-sampling veil and industrial production machines. The project is a logical continuation of his previous work: his companies have been working on vaginal veils for more than eight years. His first patents concerned a veil that allows the diffusion of medication into the vaginal cavity during the day, while suppressing any discharges. Since the creation of his company, the inventor has surrounded himself with competent people for each of his key positions, starting with general manager Mariana Preda.
Attentive to women and having the required sensitivity for products related to intimacy, Preda is committed to meeting their expectations and evolving the product.
“With our global patents and a new production facility, we want to help save as many women as possible,” adds Preda.
