What does this test offer?

Our TruCheck Intelli Early Multi-Cancer Screening blood test checks your blood sample for Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs), and clusters of the cells.

New in the UK, this test is revolutionising the ability to detect cancer at its earliest stages, and we are proud to be one of the first providers in the country to offer it to the British public.

A non-invasive procedure, this test requires a simple blood test appointment to draw a small sample from a vein in your arm. This sample is then analysed at a leading UK laboratory to detect the existence of any CTCs and therefore to determine whether you have any cancers currently in your body.

How does the test process work?

As soon as you book the test, our UK based Doctor will book an initial pre-consultation telephone call with you, to understand your medical history and reason for the test. Our Doctor will also discuss with you the risks and benefits associated with the test. If for whatever reason, our Doctor feels you are not suitable for the test or you are not willing to proceed, you will be issued a refund.*

We will then organise a testing kit to be delivered to you, to take to your clinic appointment at one of our phlebotomy hubs, which includes all the required paperwork and equipment to complete your sample.

After your appointment, the blood sample and forms must be sent back to the laboratory for analysis. Results are typically returned within 2-3 weeks (12 working days is stated by the lab from receipt of the sample).

Why is this test so revolutionary?

Launched in the UK in late 2022 after rigorous clinical trials, this test is brand new to the screening industry. It is the only test available publicly to check for Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs), detecting even the tiniest existence of cancer from a small blood sample.

Highly accurate, it not only identifies whether you have CTCs, but also where they originated. This means you know where in your body the primary tumour is located, speeding up diagnosis and treatment, and enabling doctors to focus treatment on the required areas.

Which cancers does the test check for?

Our test can identify a wide range of solid organ cancers (cancers which affect organs, rather than blood) including:

• Melanoma
• Head and Neck
• Salivary Gland
• Thyroid
• Lung
• Breast
• Liver
• Biliary Tract
• Gastrointestinal
• Soft Tissue
• Osteosarcomas
• Mesothelioma
• Urinary Tract
• Gynaecological
• Prostate
• Thymus
• Adrenal
• Central Nervous System
• + Many more

What if my results come back as ‘positive’?

A positive result means that CTCs have been found in your blood. The test results will indicate the location for the select type of cancers with high accuracy, and in other cancers the tissue of origin can be identified with reasonable accuracy. This means we can tell you where the cancer started developing in your body.

With any positive result, a member of the clinical team will call you personally to discuss your results, what they mean and guide you on your next steps which would include a referral. We have an established patient pathway if you get a positive result.

Does a ‘negative’ result mean that I am ‘totally’ cancer free?

A negative result means that at the time of the test there were no detectable cancer cells for the cancers included within the test, circulating in your blood. It does not mean that you will never develop cancer. For any cancers not covered by the test, no inference should be drawn from a negative result.

Are there any restrictions on who can take this test?

We have certain clinical requirements that you must fulfil in order to be eligible to take this test. You will need to complete an online form when you checkout to confirm these and they will be checked during a pre-consultation call with our Doctor.

To take this test you must:

• Be 40 years of age or older. (35 – 40 year olds accepted subject to being deemed high risk, please enquire)
• Not have any symptoms of cancer currently. If you have suspected symptoms, you should visit your GP urgently.
• Not have any clinical or radiological suspicion of cancer currently.
• Have not ever been diagnosed with any type of cancer.
• Have not previously had any treatment for any type of cancer.
• Not have a blood transfusion within 72 hours of your blood draw appointment.

*Please ensure you carefully review the eligibility criteria mentioned above before booking the test, as failure to meet the criteria or any subsequent changes may result in the test being declined during the pre-consultation, and a refund will be issued minus the cost of the GP’s pre-consultation.

How frequently should I take this test?

As this early cancer screening test is non-invasive, there is no disadvantage to frequent testing. However, we advise that this test should be performed every 12 months in the case of each negative result, perhaps as part of an annual complete health check process.

What’s the difference between the TruCheck and Galleri Grail test?

Although the fundamental premise of both the Grail and the TruCheck test is to identify the presence of early stage cancers in the blood, the technology is quite different. Grail relies on a process where the detection of cells is indirect, where the TruCheck test uses immunocytochemistry to directly detect actual Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs). Grail, unlike TruCheck, is not available in the UK as a private test and is currently only being conducted as part of an NHS Clinical trial. The supporting medical trial data for Grail has not been as strong in the detection for early-stage cancers in comparison to TruCheck, and so the overall cancer pick-up rate is lower. Parking the accessibility of the tests, Goodbody have assessed both tests extensively and we have found TruCheck to be far more suitable for asymptomatic cancer screening, giving the best possible detection rates for patients.