A 90-SECOND bowel test will spare 600,000 Britons uncomfortable colonoscopies, inventors say.
The OriCol swab check is designed to rule out cancer by detecting polyps and benign tumours.
Results are known within five days and it could save patients having a camera up their bum, while still referring those who get red flag results for full testing.
A study of over 800 NHS patients proved it could be used in clinics to help triage people.
Test inventors Origin Sciences said 750,000 people get referred for colonoscopy tests each year, and about four per cent are diagnosed with cancer.
Jon Lacy-Colson, chief investigator on the trial at the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, said: “The findings could fundamentally change how we approach bowel disease screening.
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“The OricolTM test could mean 80 per cent of patients who are referred for a colonoscopy could be given the all-clear without ever having to endure one.”
He said about 600,000 people could be spared invasive testing.
Hugo Lywood, CEO of Origin Sciences, said: “We are pleased this study has confirmed the OricolTM Test’s potential to transform bowel cancer diagnostics for the NHS.
“While this test does not replace colonoscopy, because it reliably detects polyps and advanced adenomas – precursors to cancer – it it has the potential to shift bowel cancer screening from late detection to prevention.”
