NHS hospitals adopt faster, more accurate at-home bladder cancer test
6 reported
According to a single-source report from The Guardian, NHS hospitals in England and Wales are adopting a new DNA-based urine test for bladder cancer that is faster, more accurate, and can be taken at home. The Galeas bladder test, developed by Nonacus, uses a urine sample to analyze 23 genes associated with bladder cancer, replacing the traditional cystoscopy procedure. An NHS trial involving 964 patients at seven hospitals in 2024-25 found the new test correctly identified whether 92% of participants had bladder cancer, compared to 81% accuracy for cystoscopy. Five hospitals have adopted the test so far, with at least 16 more expected by the end of the year. University Hospitals of Leicester became the first NHS trust in England to adopt the test last month. The source reports that early data from Leicester suggests the test may be 50% faster than cystoscopy, with patients receiving results in 16 days after referral.
What’s reported
The Galeas bladder test is a DNA-based urine test that uses the 23 genes most commonly associated with bladder cancer.
An NHS trial of 964 patients at seven hospitals in England and Scotland in 2024-25 found 92% accuracy, compared to 81% for cystoscopy.
Five hospitals have adopted the test; at least 16 others will follow by the end of 2026.
University Hospitals of Leicester became the first NHS trust in England to adopt the test last month.
Early data from Leicester shows patients received results in 16 days after referral, exceeding the NHS 28-day faster diagnosis standard.
Bladder cancer kills almost 6,000 people a year in the UK and affects more than 10,000 people a year.
Key figures
Jeff Bousfield, chief executive of Nonacus
Jayne Douglas-Moore, consultant urological surgeon at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust
Prof Richard Bryan, urologist and academic at University of Birmingham
Dr Doug Ward, colleague of Prof Bryan
Tony Hickson, chief business officer at Cancer Research UK
Prof Frankie Swords, NHS England’s national medical director
Sources: The Guardian
