Simple blood test detects prostate cancer in 15mins.

A breakthrough” test that uses dried blood samples could detect prostate cancer in 15 minutes or less, scientists believe.

- NILIMA MARSHALL REBECCA THOMAS

Researchers at Aston University have developed a new method that analyses crystal-like structures in dehydrated blood.

Professor Igor Meglinski, from the university’s Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, said the non-invasive technique can detect prostate cancer before symptoms appear with up to 90 per cent accuracy.

He said: “This breakthrough opens new avenues for cancer diagnosis and monitoring, representing a substantial leap forward in personalised medicine and oncology.”

There is currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer and the standard blood test, which measures levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA), is not accurate enough.

Further tests such as rectal exams and tissue biopsies are often needed to diagnose the disease, and can be uncomfortable and invasive.