A new revolutionary saliva test that can diagnose lung cancer in less than 10 minutes could soon be introduced into Europe in the near future.
The new testing kit which costs in the region of €20 apparently detects lung cancer by searching for fragments of genetic material in a tiny drop of saliva. According to scientists the test has a near 100% accuracy reading after it was trialed by current lung cancer patients.
The inventor of the revolutionary test, Professor David Wong of the University of California at Los Angeles, said: “We need less than one drop of saliva and we can turn the test around in ten minutes. It can be done in a doctor’s office while you wait. “Early detection is crucial. Any time you gain in finding out that someone has a life-threatening cancer, the sooner the better. With this capability, it can be implemented by the patient themselves in a home check, or dentist or pharmacy.”
Professor Wong also said he hoped the test, which is due to undergo further trials in China later this year, could be available in Europe within the next 5 years. Prof Wong also revealed that the test could be used to diagnose a range of different cancers in the future.
Prof Wong and his team decided to develop the testing kit after discovering that saliva contained fragments of the genetic messenger molecule RNA linked to cancer.
Prof Wong added: “Down the road it might be possible to test for multiple cancers at the same time.”