Diagnosis

Since early 2020 it has been suggested dogs can sniff out patients with COVID-19. Now, a study has reported on a real-world investigation into this method of detection, finding it's potentially effective, at least in detecting COVID-negative people.

Researchers are beginning to see broad impacts of the pandemic on public health, as studies warn of increases in cancer deaths over the coming years as pandemic-related delays to diagnoses are seeing cases caught at significantly later stages.

Researchers have demonstrated that a new kind of ultrasound scan can diagnose prostate cancer with accuracy equal to costly MRIs. The findings offer an easier way to quickly test patients for clinically-significant prostate cancers.

Genome sequencing can determine whether a patient’s illness is genetic, but results usually take weeks. A new ultra-rapid technique can sequence a person’s genome and diagnose genetic diseases in just a few hours, earning it a Guinness World Record.

A new test has been developed to assess the likelihood of an early-stage melanoma either spreading or recurring. The test measures levels of several proteins in a biopsy, helping doctors assess which patients require more frequent follow-ups.

Cancer treatments have better outcomes if the disease is caught early. A new Oxford study demonstrates an experimental blood test that shows promise in detecting a variety of cancers in patients, and even whether or not they’ve spread.

Glioblastoma is a brain cancer that can be aggressive and, unfortunately, tricky to diagnose without a biopsy. But a new noninvasive method, tested in mice and pigs, could one day diagnose the disease with ultrasound pulses and a basic blood test.

A study is proposing blood levels of a specific protein may serve as a predictor of type 2 diabetes up to almost two decades before any symptoms appear. The findings indicate a blood test could offer a way to assess future risk of developing the disease.

A study is describing a biomarker to identify a person’s risk of developing anorexia nervosa. The research proposes measuring levels of anxiety alongside a type of twitching eye movement can identify those with, and at risk of developing, the disorder.

Research tracking rates of autism in England has found a striking 787 percent increase in the volume of diagnoses over the past 20 years. The growth is most likely thought to be due to increased reporting and greater detection of the condition in adults.

A new study is showing a novel blood test can detect the presence of lung cancer with over 90 percent accuracy. The test uses artificial intelligence to identify abnormal patterns in fragments of cancer DNA circulating in a patient’s bloodstream.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, but numbers could be reduced with better early warning systems. A new study has outlined just such a system, using nanoparticles that make atherosclerotic plaques emit ultrasound waves.