Abu Dhabi launches new blood test that detects over 70 hard-to-find cancers in early stages

A new blood test is being rolled out in Abu Dhabi that aims to make early cancer detection easier and more effective by identifying more than 70 types of cancer even before symptoms show up.

The simple, non‑invasive test could change how people approach cancer screening, as reported by UAE’s english-daily Khaleej Times.

The test, called Trucheck™ intelli, doesn’t require fasting or any special preparation, and it delivers quick results, making it a convenient option for preventive health checks. It’s particularly aimed at people over the age of 40, and doctors hope it will encourage more people to get regular screenings.

Detecting hard‑to‑find cancers

Unlike traditional screening methods that focus on a single cancer—such as mammograms for breast cancer or colonoscopies for colon cancer—this new approach looks for signs of multiple cancers through the blood.

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“There are many cancers, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, brain cancer, for which there is no (routine) screening. And as a physician, I face many patients, and the most common question is, ‘Doctor, how come I have stage four pancreatic cancer?’” a specialist involved in the project told Khaleej Times.

He added a stark real‑world example: “In fact, even this week, I had a patient in her mid‑forties who said, ‘Doctor, how come I have stage four pancreatic cancer and I have no symptoms?’ The reality is, cancer is silent.”

That silence is precisely what this new test hopes to break, by spotting cancer early when treatment is often more successful.

“That’s why you need to do a test that can pick up many cancers through the blood. It can be very effective. It will increase diagnosis of cancer early, so we can cure more patients,” the doctor said.

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What it can—and can’t—find

While the test can pick up more than 70 types of cancer, doctors were clear about its limits. It does not detect blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, which have different biological mechanisms.

Cost and accessibility were also taken into account when launching the test. At a price of about Dh7,000‑8,000 (approximately $2k) per test, and with the ability to be done once a year, it could prove more cost‑effective than multiple separate screenings for different cancers.

The specialist said  its accuracy ranges from 95 to 98 per cent, while the risk of a false positive result is low—about one per cent.