Daye diagnostic tampon selected for NHS Innovation Accelerator

The Diagnostic Tampon invented by gynaecological health company Daye has been chosen to be part of the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA).

The Accelerator recognises innovations that address the NHS’s most urgent priorities and have demonstrated potential for widespread adoption to improve patient outcomes nationwide.

The Diagnostic Tampon utilises cutting-edge PCR testing technology to allow women to test for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes 99.8 per cent of cervical cancer cases, from the comfort of their home.

The tampon can also be used to screen for common vaginal infections and STIs.

Daye’s patented Diagnostic Tampon collects more vaginal and cervical fluid than a standard swab, covering a larger vaginal surface area, and increasing the diagnostic accuracy of at-home HPV screening.

Valentina Milanova, Founder of Daye, said: “We are closer than ever before to eliminating cervical cancer, but to achieve this HPV screening rates will need to increase beyond current 69 per cent coverage levels[3].

“Our technology has the potential to make testing more accessible and appealing to those who have been underserved by traditional methods, while saving costs for the NHS.”

Daye’s clinical data shows that the Diagnostic Tampon outperforms the self-collected swab in terms of sensitivity and specificity, with the lowest rates of false positives and false negatives when compared against the self-collected and clinician-collected swab.

The Diagnostic Tampon has been clinically validated with a variety of demographic groups, including patients who have never used tampons before, and patients who have vaginal atrophy, perimenopause and menopause.

Across the board, the Diagnostic Tampon was found to be comfortable by 90 per cent of the studies’ participants.

The innovation directly addresses the NHS’ challenge of increasing cervical screening rates as at-home testing is more convenient and reduces patient anxiety associated with traditional screening methods. It will also support the NHS’ ambitious goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.

Milanova added: “With a user-friendly device like our Diagnostic Tampon, supported by the NHS Innovation Accelerator, we can increase screening rates, detect more cases of high-risk HPV, and ultimately save lives.”