Archive · 17 Dec 2025
New Blood Test Detects Lung Cancer in Real Time
Scientists in the UK have created a new blood test that can find lung cancer cells in a person's blood.
This test uses special infrared light to look for unique patterns in cancer cells.
The test is simpler and cheaper than current methods and could help doctors find cancer earlier and treat it better.
The team hopes to test this method with more patients to make it even faster and easier to use in hospitals.
This could help many people get better care and fewer invasive procedures.
A new blood test uses FT-IR microspectroscopy to detect lung cancer cells in real time.
The test identifies unique chemical fingerprints of cancer cells using infrared light.
Current methods for detecting circulating tumor cells are complicated and expensive.
The new technique is simpler, more affordable, and uses standard glass slides.
Researchers aim to test the method in larger patient groups to develop a rapid, automated blood test.
- Who
- Researchers from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Keele University, and Loughborough University
- What
- Developed a blood test using FT-IR microspectroscopy to detect lung cancer in real time
- When
- The technique is currently under development and testing
- Where
- UK
- Why
- To reduce diagnostic delays and improve patient outcomes
- Research Team
- University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Keele University, Loughborough University
- Technique Used
- Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy
- Lead Author
- Professor Josep Sulé-Suso
- Journal Published
- Applied Spectroscopy
- Potential Benefits
- Earlier diagnoses, personalized treatments, fewer invasive procedures
- Current Methods Limitations
- Complicated, expensive, time-consuming, can miss cancer cells
- Next Steps
- Testing in larger patient groups to develop a rapid, automated blood test
