In India, a simple vinegar test has been used to detected signs of cervical cancer and now the efforts using the said test lowered the rate of cervical cancer deaths by one-third.

It is an "incredible" test according to healthcare professionals after the vinegar test helped saved millions of lives without rendering much cost compared to other tests used in developed countries.

Pap Smears & HPV Testing Versus Vinegar Test

The standard Pap smear test and HPV tests were introduced first on developed countries. The test innovation reduced incidents of cervical cancer in the United States and proven to be very effective on preventing cervical cancer deaths.

The pap smear test involves examining a cervical swab and screening it for abnormal cells linked to potential pre-cancer or cancerous processes. In the United States alone, all women aged 21 and older should receive a Pap smear test every three years to monitor and prevent cervical cancer.

Primarily, cervical cancer is caused by HPV or Human Papilloma Virus which accounts for 99 per cent of most cases. HPV testing is accurate and also detects cervical cancer like the Pap smear. However, these tests in developing countries are very expensive to avail and lead to lack of screening and care for the disease, thus losing its effectiveness to prevent cervical cancer.

Unlike Pap smear or HPV tests, using vinegar to detect cervical cancer is inexpensive and requires little training and do not even asking for too much equipment.

Cheapest, Effective & Inexpensive Test Alternative

Vinegar is usually available to any household and commonly found right inside the kitchen. Recently, group scientists found vinegar a good alternative to detect cervical cancer aside from expensive pap smears or HPV test.

Vinegar test may be shocking at first and definitely going to smell due to its strong odour but using it to determine cervical cancer is cost-effective, requires little training and almost no need for equipment. The step involves swabbing the cervix with vinegar and it will turn any pre-cancerous tumours white within minutes.

How Effective Is It?

About 150,000 women in Mumbai, India, took part in the study, and the result revealed an overwhelming 31 per cent reduction on cervical cancer deaths.

"That's amazing. That's remarkable. It's a very exciting result," said Dr. Ted Trimble of the National Cancer Institute of the United States, quoted by MedicalNewsToday.

For every two years since 1998, 75,360 women who took the vinegar test displayed proof and effectiveness compared to other 76,178 women who were given free Pap smear test. The vinegar test was proven cheaper and more accessible for women in India.

"We hope our results will have a profound effect in reducing the burden of cervical cancer India and around the world. This is the first trial to identify a cervical cancer screening strategy that reduces mortality and is feasible to implement on a broad scale throughout India and in other developing countries," concluded Professor Surendra Srnivas Shastri of Preventive Oncology at the Mumbai Tata Memorial Hospital.

The new found discovery on detecting cervical cancer in such effective and inexpensive way will lead easy access for third world countries to avail of cervical cancer screening when needed. Hopefully, the new method can be reached out to other millions of women worldwide very soon.