NEW $30 BLOOD TEST TO SPEED-UP BOWEL CANCER DETECTION

Irish Scientists Developing Product That Will Spot Bowel Cancer Early

An Irish led project is developing a simple and low cost test for bowel cancer that could be on the market as early as next year. The project involves the DCU-based Biomedical Diagnostics Institute and biomedical multinational Randox which has its headquarters in Northern Ireland. The new blood test will be able to detect bowel cancer at the earliest stage and will do away with the need for an ‘unpleasant’ fecal screen. Bowel cancer is the second deadliest form of cancer in ireland and the national screening program of those aged 60-69 currently has a low uptake. As with other cancers early detection is linked with higher survival rates. The test requires only a small amount of blood which makes it less invasive than current bowel cancer tests, which may encourage more people to present themselves for screening. The new test is expected to retail for €25, roughly USD$30.