Becton Dickinson (BD) and Orem, UT-based Techcyte have announced a strategic collaboration agreement designed to, in time, add artificial intelligence (AI) to cervical cancer screening in the U.S.
In a statement, BD cited a workforce shortage in cytology as driving the development of its digital cervical cytology system with AI. With the agreement, the system will incorporate Techcyte's AI-based algorithm for identifying evidence of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. The company noted that the Techcyte system is CE-marked per the IVD directive (98/79/EC) for clinical use in Europe.
Techcyte's platform is compatible with the most common liquid-based cytology (LBC) preparations, according to BD, including the SurePath liquid-based Pap test vial and aims to be compatible with several whole-slide imagers. The BD and Techcyte digital cervical cytology system will be commercially available in Europe in the first half of 2024, BD said.
