Singapore, May 9, 2008: Enterix, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics and US-based biotechnology company announced the availability of the InSure Quik F I T fecal immunochemical test, a point-of-care version of the company's lab-based InSure FIT test that provides physicians with the sensitivity and specificity of the laboratory-based InSure FIT test.

 

The availability of the CLIA-waived InSure Quik F I T test is intended to help physicians increase patient compliance with an annual colorectal cancer screening test. Although colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in the US, screening rates for the disease are low compared to screenings for cervical and prostate cancers and colorectal cancer claims the lives of up to 50,000 Americans each year.

 

Studies have shown that the InSure FIT test is highly sensitive for detecting blood in or around the stool. In a study of patients who were at average risk, high risk or had no symptoms at all, InSure FIT was found to have 33% greater sensitivity for colorectal cancer than a leading guaiac-based FOBT screening test. The InSure Quik F I T test uses the same patient-friendly blue brush collection method as the InSure FIT and is considered substantially equivalent to the InSure FIT test.

 

Dr Stephen C. Suffin, corporate clinical pathologist and interim chief laboratory officer, Quest Diagnostics, said, "Quest Diagnostics is committed to helping increase the number of people getting screened annually for colorectal cancer -- and the launch of InSure Quik F I T, alongside our national challenge called 'Do You Have The Guts,' can help to do just that’. The availability of InSure Quik F I T reinforces two of our company's priorities - - providing physicians and patients with diagnostic insights that can help improve preventive care, and improving and simplifying patient care with a growing portfolio of point-of-care testing options. Colorectal cancer is often treatable and even preventable when caught early, which is why annual screening with the InSure Quik F I T test is so important."

 

FIT tests detect blood in the stool that might indicate colorectal cancer or other lower gastrointestinal diseases. FIT tests help identify individuals that are candidates for colonoscopy, even if they do not have overt symptoms of colorectal cancer. This may mean the disease is in its early, more treatable stages, or that they may have precancerous polyps that can be removed during colonoscopy.