The number of Cxbladder bladder cancer tests processed at Pacific Edge’s laboratories have set a record in the three months to the end of June.
In an investor update this week, the Dunedin-based cancer diagnostic company said there had been a quarter-on-quarter increase of 13% to 7055 tests from the 6242 processed in the March quarter.
It also represented an increase of 32% over the June 2021 quarter result of 5356 tests.
The increase in volumes reflected growing awareness of the role Cxbladder could play in safely de-intensifying or intensifying the clinical workup for patients presenting with blood in their urine (hematuria).
It could help to resolve diagnostic dilemmas during hematuria evaluation and to monitor for the recurrence of urothelial cancer in post-treatment patients.
It also reflected the continued easing of Covid-19 restrictions which had been limiting in-person visits with clinicians.
In Asia-Pacific, where test numbers were dominated by New Zealand, volumes had been more muted. Of the 20 new Health New Zealand, Te Whatu Ora, regional divisions, 14 covered the tests.
Total test volumes in the three months to the end of June in the APAC region increased by 3% on the March 2022 quarter to 982 tests from 952, but fell 9% on the 1079 tests in the June 2021 quarter.
Longer term, Pacific Edge believed the consolidation of New Zealand’s healthcare system would be positive for the adoption of Cxbladder as engagement with the national health authority might accelerate the adoption across the remainder of New Zealand’s population.
