ENGLAND — The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved two endometriosis tests, EndoSure and Endotest, for use on the NHS in England and Wales. This approval is for a three-year period, during which further evidence on their effectiveness will be collected before a final decision on permanent use.

A draft recommendation for the tests was published on a Tuesday. NICE stated that the EndoSure and Endotest are not designed to function as standalone diagnostic tools. Instead, they are intended for women where endometriosis is still suspected after a normal clinical examination and either negative or inconclusive imaging results, or in cases where imaging has not been utilized.

The Endotest requires women to provide a saliva sample, which is then sent to a laboratory to check for microRNAs. The EndoSure test identifies endometriosis by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads placed on the abdomen. Patients taking the EndoSure test must fast for six to eight hours prior; during the 45-minute test, they are asked to drink water until full to aid the device in accurately recording gut activity. Results for the EndoSure test are available immediately after completion.

Dr. Anastasia Chalkidou, healthtech programme director at NICE, said: "A diagnosis of endometriosis can for some women take the best part of a decade, with the UK average standing at nine years and four months, and rising to 11 years for those from ethnically diverse communities." She added: "These technologies have the potential to change that by giving primary care professionals better non-invasive tools to identify endometriosis earlier, allowing earlier and better treatment." Chalkidou also said: "Our draft guidance reflects our commitment to getting promising innovations to patients quickly, while making sure the evidence to support their wider use is built in a rigorous way."

Dr. Gail Busby, a consultant gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: "These tests are a gamechanger because they give us answers much earlier, without the need for invasive surgery, and that means we can start the right treatment sooner." Busby added: "An earlier diagnosis doesn't just change one person's life, it frees up appointments and surgical slots for everyone waiting for care." Emma Cox of Endometriosis UK welcomed the introduction of the tests and stated that their implementation should be accompanied by educational initiatives for general practitioners and nurses to ensure prompt access and an end to symptoms not being recognised.

Why It Matters

The approval of these new tests by NICE represents an effort to reduce the diagnostic period for endometriosis, a condition affecting one in 10 women of reproductive age. Women in England and Wales typically face a wait of up to a decade for a diagnosis. Endometriosis involves tissue similar to the womb lining growing elsewhere in the body, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, causing symptoms that can include painful periods, painful bowel movements, pain when urinating, and pain during or after sex. Current diagnostic methods include ultrasound scans, MRI, or laparoscopy, which involves inserting a camera through a small abdominal incision. The new non-invasive tests aim to complement these existing methods by offering an earlier detection option in certain cases.