New Blood Test Shows High Accuracy in Early Ovarian Cancer Detection

Published AUG 26 2025

Story

Image credit: Malcolm Choong 鍾声耀/Unsplash

The Facts

Researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Colorado developed a blood test that detects ovarian cancer by identifying two distinct blood markers, lipids and proteins, in symptomatic women using machine learning technology.
BBC News
Weston Mercury
The test demonstrated 93% accuracy across all stages of ovarian cancer and 91% accuracy for early-stage disease in University of Colorado samples, while Manchester samples showed 92% accuracy for all stages and 88% for early stages.
guardian
Nation.Cymru
Ovarian cancer affects approximately 7,500 women in the U.K. annually, predominantly those over age 50, and is often detected late when treatment becomes more difficult due to vague symptoms like bloating and pelvic pain.
Open Access Government
Independent
The blood test, designed by firm AOA Dx, works by detecting cancer cell fragments that carry lipids and proteins released into the bloodstream, creating what researchers describe as a biological fingerprint for ovarian cancer detection.
University of Manchester
BBC News
Currently, only 20% of women with ovarian cancer receive a diagnosis in stage one or two of the disease, as more than 90% experience generalized symptoms that can be mistaken for less serious conditions.
Open Access Government
BBC News
The study published in the American Association of Cancer Research journal Cancer Research Communications tested over 950 patients and found the new test outperformed traditional single biomarker tests used for the past 30 years.
University of Manchester
UNSW Sites

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The Spin

Narrative A

This breakthrough represents a game-changer for women's health. The test's impressive accuracy rates of over 90% could finally give doctors the tool they need to catch ovarian cancer before it spreads. With current methods missing 80% of early cases, this technology offers real hope for saving thousands of lives annually.

University of Manchester

Narrative B

While the results look promising on paper, this test still needs extensive validation before reaching patients. The study only examined symptomatic women, and real-world performance may differ. Ovarian cancer treatment is also victim to severe racial and wealth disparities, which must be rectified if it is to be as effective as possible.