New Low-Cost Blood Test Detects Multiple Cancers

The test, developed by UCLA scientists, analyzes cell-free DNA to identify cancer and other diseases.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:40am

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An extreme close-up X-ray photograph revealing the intricate, ghostly structures within a human blood cell, conceptually representing the advanced molecular analysis capabilities of a new cancer detection blood test.A new blood test developed at UCLA could enable earlier, more comprehensive detection of cancer and other diseases by analyzing the molecular signatures in a person's bloodstream.Los Angeles Today

UCLA scientists have developed a simple and cost-effective blood test that, in early studies, shows promise in detecting multiple cancers, various liver conditions and organ abnormalities simultaneously by analyzing DNA fragments circulating in the bloodstream. The new method, called MethylScan, works by analyzing cell-free DNA (cfDNA), tiny fragments of genetic material released into the blood when cells die. In tests, MethylScan detected about 63% of cancers across all stages and roughly 55% of early-stage cancers.

Why it matters

Early detection is crucial for improving cancer survival rates, as outcomes are dramatically better when cancers are caught before they spread. The new blood test could offer a powerful and more affordable approach to early disease detection and comprehensive health monitoring compared to current methods.

The details

The MethylScan test examines DNA methylation, chemical tags attached to DNA that help regulate gene activity. Methylation patterns differ by tissue type and can change when cells become cancerous or diseased. The researchers built on past work to develop a technique to remove much of the background DNA from blood cells before sequencing, allowing them to dramatically reduce the amount of sequencing needed and lower costs while maintaining sensitivity. In tests on 1,061 people, the test achieved a high level of overall accuracy, detecting about 63% of cancers across all stages and roughly 55% of early-stage cancers. The test also performed well in liver cancer surveillance, detecting nearly 80% of cases at a specificity of just over 90%.

  • The new blood test, called MethylScan, was developed by UCLA scientists.

The players

UCLA

The University of California, Los Angeles, where the MethylScan blood test was developed.

Dr. Jasmine Zhou

The study's senior author, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and investigator at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Wenyuan Li

A professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at UCLA and co-corresponding author of the study.

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What they’re saying

“Early detection is crucial. Survival rates are far higher when cancers are caught before they spread. If you detect cancer at stage one, outcomes are dramatically better than at stage four.”

— Dr. Jasmine Zhou, Professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, UCLA

“DNA methylation reflects the health status of a tissue. It's a very informative signal.”

— Dr. Wenyuan Li, Professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, UCLA

What’s next

Larger prospective trials will be needed to confirm the performance of the MethylScan test in real-world screening.

The takeaway

This new blood test represents an important step toward a single, affordable assay that can detect a broad spectrum of diseases earlier and more comprehensively than current methods, potentially transforming early disease detection and health monitoring.