Archive · 5 Sep 2026
New At-Home Urine Test Detects 92% of Bladder Cancers
Researchers studied a urine test that people may be able to use at home to help find bladder cancer.
The test is called the GALEAS Bladder urine test.
It detected about 92% of the bladder cancers in the study.
It found every muscle-invasive cancer included in the analysis.
It also detected 35 of 36 high-grade cancers.
The study involved 964 patients at seven NHS hospitals.
A negative result meant there was a 99.3% chance that the person did not have cancer in this study.
However, doctors still need to use cystoscopy and other tests to confirm a diagnosis.
The GALEAS Bladder urine test detected 71 of 77 bladder cancers, with 92.2% sensitivity.
The test detected all muscle-invasive bladder cancers analyzed and 35 of 36 high-grade cancers.
The study examined 964 patients across seven NHS hospitals, with about 8% diagnosed with bladder cancer.
A negative result was associated with a 99.3% chance of being cancer-free in the study.
The test is not a replacement for cystoscopy, which remains the diagnostic standard for confirming bladder cancer.
- Who
- Researchers tested the GALEAS Bladder urine test in 964 patients; about 8% were diagnosed with bladder cancer.
- What
- The study evaluated whether an at-home urine test could detect bladder cancer.
- When
- The findings were published in the European Medical Journal; the article gives no publication date.
- Where
- Testing took place across seven NHS hospitals.
- Why
- The test could make initial bladder-cancer screening faster and less invasive, potentially supporting earlier treatment.
- Test
- GALEAS Bladder urine test
- Patients studied
- 964 patients
- Hospitals
- 7 NHS hospitals
- Overall detection
- 71 of 77 cancers; 92.2% sensitivity
- Muscle-invasive cancers
- 100% detected in the analyzed cases
- High-grade cancers
- 35 of 36 detected; 97.2% detection rate
- Negative result
- 99.3% chance of being cancer-free, according to the study