IOTA Diagnostic and KIMS Hospitals-Gachibowli Hyderabad Launch Revolutionary ‘M-Strip’ – India’s First Menstrual Pad-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Test in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, 27th October 2025: In a pioneering step for women’s health in India, IOTA Diagnostic, in collaboration with KIMS Hospitals, Gachibowli, launched the M-Strip — a Do-It-Yourself (DIY), menstrual pad–based early cervical cancer screening test. The launch took place during KIMS Hospitals’ Gachibowli Cancer Awareness Forum – “Pink Picnic”’, which brought together over 600 participants, including cancer survivors, families, and medical professionals.

Cervical cancer claims the lives of over 77,300 women in India each year, and only 1.9% of women undergoing screening, this innovation represents a crucial leap toward accessible and stigma-free healthcare for women across the country.

Developed by IOTA Diagnostic, the M-Strip collects a few drops of menstrual blood with menstrual pad, typically discarded as waste, into valuable diagnostic samples for HPV (Human Papillomavirus) testing, the primary cause of cervical cancer in over 90% of cases.

Women can use M-Strip privately at home during their menstrual cycle by following simple instructions. The collected sample is then sent via doorstep pickup to IOTA’s certified partner labs for HPV analysis. Test results are delivered confidentially within days, empowering women to take charge of their health without clinical visits or invasive procedures.

The M-Strip, powered by IOTA’s patented dried matrix technology, preserves samples for months without cold storage, enabling easy and safe transportation. The innovation has been clinically validated at Sterling Hospitals, Ahmedabad, tested in NABL-accredited labs, and approved by the CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation).

To date, over 11% of women screened using the M-Strip have been identified with high-risk HPV genotypes, the variants responsible for developing cervical cancer after persistent infection. Early detection through such testing can play a pivotal role in reducing mortality rates from this highly preventable disease.

The M-Strip Do-It-Yourself (DIY) kits will now be available at KIMS Hospitals Gachibowli Hyderabad, making early screening easily accessible to women through hospital channels. In addition, the test kit will be available through IOTA’s digital platforms, enabling online ordering and doorstep sample collection, bringing diagnostics directly into women’s homes.

The M-Strip innovation has been endorsed by India’s Health Minister, Shri J.P. Nadda, and received international recognition in the Philippines from the Department of Science and Technology. It has also received recognition from Shri Madhusudhan Sai for its societal impact and support from IIMA Ventures.

Vaibhav Shitole, Founder & CEO, IOTA Diagnostic said “M-Strip represents more than a diagnostic test, it’s a movement toward dignity, accessibility, and empowerment for women. Our goal is to ensure that no woman loses her life due to the lack of early screening. We are proud to partner with KIMS Hospitals-Gachibowli in bringing this life-saving innovation to Hyderabad, marking a new chapter in preventive women’s healthcare.”

Dr. Somesh Chandra, Innovator of M-Strip and Principal Investigator, added ‘’HPV-DNA testing is the recommendation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for cervical cancer screening. Self-sampling for the test using M-Strip is our attempt to offer women a home-based easy do-it-yourself option’’

Dr. Bhavya Bayana, Women Cancer Expert, KIMS Hospitals-Gachibowli, said ’An ideal innovation and a true solution to the existing barriers in cervical cancer screening. With M Strip, screening can become a simple, routine part of every woman’s life — paving the way for better prevention, early detection, and ultimately, cervical cancer elimination.’’