Capsule sponge test revolutionizes GERD diagnosis, reduces unnecessary endoscopies (News Medical)

A recent UK study in BMC Gastroenterology explored capsule sponge testing as a minimally invasive triage tool for GERD patients, reducing the reliance on costly and invasive endoscopies. By analyzing esophageal cells for biomarkers linked to Barrett’s esophagus and cancer risk, this method discharged 70% of low-risk patients while effectively prioritizing high-risk cases for further investigation. While false negatives were rare (0.9%), the findings underscore capsule sponge testing’s potential to streamline diagnostics, conserve resources, and identify significant pathology, such as Barrett’s esophagus, with high specificity.