How does it work
The NP Screen™ procedure is performed by a trained physician or clinician who uses a simple, patient-friendly trans-oral swab to collect cells from the area of the nasopharynx where NPC first forms. The procedure is painless and takes no more than 1 minute to perform. During clinical study, none of the patients tested developed any adverse events such as bleeding or infection. The collected sample is preserved in room temperature & shipped to our clinical laboratory where the DNA is extracted from these cells for analysis. The turnaround time for the result is fast and available within two to three weeks after the procedure. If abnormalities are detected at elevated levels then your risk for NPC is considered to be very high.
Trans-Oral Brushing
A sample collection kit, a light source, tongue depressor and vial holder is all you will need. A trained physician or a nurse clinician could perform this in almost all clinical settings or even in remote location as required. In a few simple steps:
1. Have patient sitting comfortably in chair with neck support
2. Ask the patient to open the mouth and breath through their mouth (the tongue based will drop down exposing the uvula)
3. Gently insert the proprietary brush provided horizontally with the tongue depressor
4. As the brush passes the uvula, gently rotate the brush upward through the throat and position the brush tip in the nasopharynx. (Avoid touching the tip of the brush to the throat to induce premature gag reflex)
5. Ask the patient to break through the nose
6. Gently push the brush tip toward the back wall of the nasopharynx and rotate 203 times left and right. ( a light gag reflex is normal which will help with the sample collection as the nasopharynx contract)
7. Gently pull the brush out of the patient’s mouth by motioning the hand upward.
8. Cut the brush tip and preserve the samples in the vial provided with preservation agent.