A French company, Ziwig, has developed the very first saliva test to detect endometriosis in women in just a few days. Currently, it takes on average between 8 and 12 years for a diagnosis to be made.
Endometriosis is a disease that affects one in ten women in France, and it is one of the leading causes of infertility. Being considered a “multifactorial disease” – i.e. one that depends on a combination of genetic, environmental and menstruation-related factors – the time between the appearance of the first symptoms and diagnosis can span several years. . Currently, doctors diagnose endometriosis using an MRI or laparoscopy under general anesthesia.
To drastically reduce diagnostic errors, but also to avoid invasive methods, the Ziwig company has developed this saliva test, called Endotest. It is based on micro-RNAs (miRNAs) that are found in most human fluids, including saliva.
A nearly 100% effective method
To assess the reliability of this new diagnostic method, Ziwig carried out a study in French public hospitals on 200 women with symptoms similar to those of endometriosis. Results ? This saliva test proves to be almost 100% reliable.
How does the test work? The Endotest comes in the form of a simple tube. The patient just has to spit inside before sending it to a laboratory by La Poste. A few days later, the laboratory sends him its analysis results, invalidating or confirming the diagnosis of endometriosis.
A test still not found on the market
Although this saliva test makes it possible to quickly detect endometriosis, and therefore to begin treatment for this disease as soon as possible, it is not yet available on the market. Indeed, Ziwig is carrying out a new study on 1,000 women, conducted in five reference French centers, as explained in their press release.
The company is also awaiting a return from the Haute Autorité de Santé. It must decide whether this new diagnostic method can enter into the care pathway for patients and decide on possible reimbursement by health insurance. This would make it possible to democratize the Endotest so that a large number of women can be tested.