The new PinPoint blood test, developed by Leeds-based PinPoint Data Science, uses machine learning to analyze 30 blood markers and assess cancer risk. A trial involving 16,481 patients from 170 GP practices in Yorkshire tested the system for nine cancer types, including 3,313 women referred for heavy bleeding—a key symptom of womb cancer. Results showed 99% accuracy in detecting and ruling out gynaecological cancers, outperforming conventional methods.
How the Test Works
The test categorizes patients as low, elevated, or high risk for cancer based on blood marker analysis. For womb cancer, it could save one in five referred women (around 18,000 annually) from needing a transvaginal ultrasound scan, which many find uncomfortable or painful. Currently, all women referred for heavy bleeding undergo this scan; about 10% of the 90,000 yearly referrals are diagnosed with womb cancer.
NHS Implementation
Mid Yorkshire NHS Teaching Trust plans to adopt the test for six types of gynaecological and upper gastrointestinal cancers, while Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will use it for gynaecological cancers. Prof Sean Duffy, PinPoint's chief medical officer and former NHS England national clinical director for cancer, called the 99% accuracy "remarkable by any clinical standards" and noted its potential to spare thousands from unnecessary invasive procedures.
Impact on Patients and GPs
Dr Jacinta Walsh, a GP in West Yorkshire, said the test could reduce the six visits typically needed to rule out cancer, providing earlier peace of mind and freeing GP capacity. Tracy Jackson, consultant gynaecologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, explained that most referred women do not have cancer, yet current investigations—transvaginal scans and sometimes hysteroscopies—can be distressing. The PinPoint test "gives us a way to triage more intelligently," allowing low-risk women to be ruled out in primary care, reducing unnecessary procedures and shortening waiting lists.
Expert Endorsement
Cancer Research UK called the test "promising." Spokesperson Samantha Harrison said: "Spotting cancer early saves lives, but right now patients are not being diagnosed quickly enough. This test could help to rule out endometrial cancer in some women, through a simple blood test, without the need for further testing. More research is needed to understand the benefits for patients and the NHS, but the results of this study are promising."
