BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), US-based medical technology company, and Techcyte, a world leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital diagnostics, have announced a strategic collaboration agreement to offer an AI-based algorithm that guides cytologists and pathologists to efficiently and effectively identify evidence of cervical cancer and precancer using whole-slide imaging.

The agreement enables BD to deliver a complete solution that aims to reduce the potential for human error and enable greater throughput, so that labs can achieve their results with greater standardisation, reproducibility, and efficiency from a Pap test, also known as a Pap smear. 

Traditionally, Pap tests have been conducted by taking a sample from a patient and placing it on a glass slide that is visually evaluated by a cytotechnologist or pathologist using a microscope. With the digital cervical cytology system, the samples can be scanned, converted to a digital slide image, and then reviewed on a computer monitor in a lab or from a remote location. In addition, the digital cervical cytology system uses an AI-based algorithm to prioritise and present clinically relevant cells for visual evaluation.

The Techcyte platform is compatible with the most common liquid based cytology (LBC) preparations, including BD SurePath Liquid-based Pap Test vial and aims to be compatible with several of the most-used whole-slide imagers on the market.