Each year hundreds of women around the world, die of cervical cancer. And the only form of prevention is early detection. Women are advised to have a pap smear every two years. But it's uncomfortable, not always reliable and there's a long wait for the results. But a new test soon to be available, takes less time and the result is immediate. Instead of taking a scraping of cells, the Truscan probe takes electrical and optical measurements of the cervix.

It operates in real time so it gives an instantaneous diagnosis. And it is minimally invasive, less invasive than the pap smear. And it is very accurate; all the tests so far are showing a very high degree of accuracy.

Video images and truscan measurements were taken from 6 thousand women. Using complex formulas devised by scientists from Australia's science agency CSIRO, the tissue types are identified. During an examination, the TruScan probe immediately compares the measurement it's taking, to the millions it has stored, before accurately classifying the tissue as normal, abnormal or cancerous.

CSIRO's involvement in TruScan was on several fronts. Firstly on the mathematical front, they assisted us in the development of the algorithms, which is a mathematical picture that effectively interprets the raw data when it comes in and secondly they helped us on the applied physics front on the manufacturing of the electrodes.

By quicker, more accurate diagnoses of cervical irregularities, The TruScan probe will give women around the world a greater chance of surviving cervical cancer.

Daniel McMichael
CSIRO Maths and Information Sciences
Private Bag 2
Glen Osmond SA 5064
Daniel.McMichael@csiro.au