Company Creates Multi-Cancer Early Detection Blood Test

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021 -- 10:01 AM

(WBAY) Early detection is key when it comes to any type of cancer, but for many, there isn’t a test to help with early detection, like pancreatic cancer.

Now there might be some hope. Grail, a health company, just announced the creation of a multi-cancer early detection blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer early on, including pancreatic cancer which is normally diagnosed at stage 3 or 4 because it is so hard to detect.

“In Wisconsin, roughly three people are diagnosed every day with pancreatic cancer, and two end up passing away from the disease so those are certainly frightening statistics,” said Steve Lipshetz with the Milwaukee Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

“It’s certainly a big breakthrough having a blood test that’s as accurate as it is for determining pancreatic cancer at stage zero and stage one.” The test tracks cancer cells’ DNA, which is different from the DNA output of healthy cells in the body.

With more than 140 clinical studies, the test has less than a 1 percent false positivity rate. The $949 test is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration yet, but Grail is currently working on that. Right now, the test Galleri is considered a laboratory-developed test.

Grail’s laboratory is CLIA certified and CAP-accredited which means it can deliver this test as a laboratory-developed test to physicians and patients. The test is not covered by insurance, but that too is in the process of being worked out.

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