New blood test could be the first to detect endometriosis

If it works, this could be a medical game-changer



The simple test proves researchers are on 'the cusp of a new era', experts have said ( Shutterstock )
The biotech industry is booming, and the latest innovation claims to be able to detect endometriosis from a simple blood test.

MDNA Life Sciences recently revealed it would be launching a blood test which is able to detect 90 per cent of endometriosis cases.

In the UK, it takes an average of seven and a half years to detect endometriosis in women – a condition that sees the lining of the womb grow elsewhere including fallopian tubes which can cause severe pain - something 10 per cent of women of reproductive age suffer from.

Currently, the only way to receive a formal diagnosis of endometriosis is via a laparoscopy, an invasive operation which involves a camera being inserted into the pelvis.

However, researchers at MDNA have teamed up with experts at Oxford University to analyse data and find the unique mutations that can be identified as ‘biomarkers’ for various diseases – including endometriosis. Recent clinical trials have now indicated that these biomarkers can accurately detect endometriosis in blood samples – even in the early stages - for nine out of 10 cases.

MDNA is now in the process of creating a testing kit which will be available to buy privately by the end of the year – but the tests will cost £250 each.

Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK, said that if it were to work, a non-surgical method of diagnosing endometriosis should be available for free on the NHS.

Cox said in a statement: "Women with the disease already face a financial burden due to loss of earnings and it's not fair to add to this by only offering pioneering treatment and diagnosis options to those who can afford to pay for it.

"Endometriosis UK welcomes new research into endometriosis which is a much under researched area. Whilst the research released today is an interesting study, it is a trial with a small sample size, and a much bigger study covering a diverse range of demographics would be needed to validate the findings."

With endometriosis affecting a tenth of the female population worldwide, another tech start-up, NextGen Jane, is looking at non-surgical ways to diagnose endometriosis.

The California-based company plans to use blood squeezed from used tampons as a way to diagnose endometriosis along with cervical cancer and a variety of other disorders.

Yesterday, it was announced the start-up had received $9 million (£6.83 million) in Series A funding, with the idea that the custom-made tampon will be inserted for two hours and, once removed, placed inside a test tube as part of an at-home kit and sent to a lab for analysis.

While the technology behind the idea is yet to be proven, the funding will allow the start-up to begin the clinical trial where they will test the diagnostic efficiency of menstrual blood from 800 women.

With the blood test soon being available and a smart tampon on the horizon, diagnosing endometriosis is about to become much easier, meaning treatment can begin sooner.

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