Phase Scientific Developed Urine-Based Cervical Test
The company has initiated a large-scale clinical study to validate a non-invasive cervical cancer screening method.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Cancer
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Phase Scientific has developed a new cervical cancer screening method that utilizes urine-based HPV testing. The approach relies on proprietary sample-concentration technology to improve detection and accessibility.
Why it matters
By reinvesting pandemic-era profits into medical research, the firm aims to increase screening participation for women who are reluctant to undergo conventional clinical collection methods.
The company is conducting a clinical study involving 17,000 women in mainland China to evaluate the method. This follows the firm's previous peak operations, which included a 400-person workforce and monthly production of 30 million Covid-19 antigen tests.
The players
Phase Scientific
A biotech firm founded in California that moved its headquarters to Hong Kong and transitioned from pandemic testing to cancer research.
Ricky Chiu
The founder of Phase Scientific who established the company in 2015 to advance medical diagnostic technologies.
Dennis Lo
A notable scientist who became the vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in January 2025.
The details
The technology works by concentrating biological material from a liquid sample in a laboratory setting before testing. Patients can collect their own urine samples, which the company hopes will lower barriers to routine cervical cancer screenings.
Timeline
2015: Ricky Chiu co-founded Phase Scientific in California.
July 2021: The company received US emergency-use authorization for its Indicaid rapid antigen test.
January 2025: Dennis Lo became CUHK vice-chancellor.
Health Landscape
This diagnostic development represents a wider shift toward liquid biopsy technologies in cancer screening. It follows a pattern established by academic-private partnerships aiming to bridge laboratory innovation with clinical application.
The introduction of a self-collected urine test could significantly reduce the physical discomfort and inconvenience associated with traditional cervical screenings. If proven effective, this method may eventually provide a more accessible alternative for routine preventative health visits.
The takeaway
Advancements in sample-concentration technology are creating new opportunities to move cancer screenings out of the clinical office and into the home. Patients should remain updated on local availability as these methods undergo validation trials.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Cancer screening and diagnostic research.
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