- Developed by Cambridge researchers and trialed by NHS, a new capsule-sponge test has significantly decreased the necessity for invasive endoscopy in low-risk patients, benefiting over 8,500 individuals.
- Almost eight out of ten patients who underwent the test were discharged without further evaluation, freeing up endoscopy capacity for higher-risk patients and urgent cases of oesophageal cancer.
- The test involves swallowing a small capsule containing a sponge that collects cell samples for analysis, allowing for quick and painless diagnosis without sedation.
- Prof. Rebecca Fitzgerald, Director of the Early Cancer Institute at the University of Cambridge, hails the positive results as a major step toward routine availability of the test, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis for patient outcomes.
- The pilot’s success has led to widespread implementation across 30 hospital sites in England, with evaluations showing high cost-effectiveness compared to endoscopy-only diagnosis, saving approximately £400 per patient.
- Dr. Danielle Morris, a consultant gastroenterologist at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, highlights the significant benefits of the capsule-sponge test, including avoiding unnecessary endoscopies in almost seven out of ten patients and reducing waiting lists for endoscopy procedures.
NHS trial of sponge-on-a-string test replaces need for endoscopy for thousands of patients (University of Cambridge)
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