Lucid Diagnostics: EsoGuard 2.0

Lucid Diagnostics' CAP-accredited, CLIA-certified lab, LucidDx Labs, has launched the next generation of the EsoGuard Esophageal DNA test for detecting esophageal precancer. All commercial and research samples received by the lab will be processed with the updated test. According to Lucid Chairman and CEO Lishan Aklog, the new test improves upon the older version by enhancing DNA yield and streamlining downstream processes with advanced molecular techniques and improved bioinformatics. The EsoGuard assay extracts DNA from esophageal cells collected via the EsoCheck Cell Collection Device. Bisulfate conversion is performed on the DNA, tagging sites that are not methylated. The VIM and CCNA1 genes, which have 31 methylation sites that correlate with esophageal precancer and cancer, are amplified by PCR and then sequenced. Bioinformatics software is used to analyze the DNA sequence data and determine the proportion of the 31 target sites that are methylated, resulting in a positive or negative test result. The updated test uses multiplexing, compared to a single-plex technique with the original test, allowing labs to run the assay three times and call positive and negative results by consensus, Lucid noted.