KILLER brain tumours could soon be detected using Covid-style lateral flow tests at home.
Scientists hope the kits will cut the number of deaths due to early diagnosis — and may even be developed to detect other types of cancer.
Patients who have already been treated for brain tumours currently have a follow-up scan every three to six months.
But some types of tumour almost always come back, and testing delays give them time to grow and decrease survival rates.
The new tests — which use blood from a pricked finger instead of saliva used by the familiar Covid kits — would allow weekly testing.
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Work to develop the kits will target aggressive, recurring tumours which lead to 200,000 deaths a year globally.
They could also significantly relieve the burden on the NHS by reducing the need for MRI scans.
A team at Nottingham Trent University is leading the work, funded by the Medical Research Council, working with researchers at the University of Sheffield.
Philippe Wilson, professor of One Health NTU, said: “Recurrence is a major problem and some come back very quickly and aggressively.
"If you have an MRI six months after treatment, by that point a tumour could have been back for a significant amount of time, potentially.
“This tech would provide regular, aff-ordable monitoring at home in an easy-to-use way.”