New Urine Test Offers 92 Percent Accurate Bladder Cancer Detection, Study Finds - Video

A simple urine test that can be done at home may make bladder cancer testing easier and less invasive, according to a new study.

Bladder cancer develops when abnormal cells grow in the bladder and form tumours. One of the most common warning signs is blood in the urine, although some people may have blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

The study looked at a test called the GALEAS Bladder urine test. Researchers tested it in 964 patients across seven NHS hospitals and found that it detected 71 of 77 bladder cancer cases. This gave the test a sensitivity of 92.2%.

The test performed even better for aggressive cancers. It detected 35 of 36 high-grade bladder cancers, giving a detection rate of 97.2%. It also detected all cases of muscle-invasive bladder cancer included in the study.

Around 30% of participants had blood in their urine that was not visible, but some of these patients were found to have bladder cancer. Researchers said the findings highlight the importance of detecting the disease early.

Currently, doctors may use urine tests, urine cytology, cystoscopy, biopsies and imaging scans to investigate suspected bladder cancer. Cystoscopy involves inserting a thin camera through the urinary passage to look inside the bladder and remains an important standard diagnostic method.

The new urine test could potentially provide a simpler way to identify people who may need further testing. A negative result was associated with a 99.3% chance of being cancer-free in the study.

However, the test cannot currently replace cystoscopy or other diagnostic procedures. More research is needed to confirm how well it works in different groups of patients and how it could be used in routine care.

People with symptoms such as blood in the urine, frequent urination, pain while urinating or pelvic pain should seek medical evaluation rather than relying only on an at-home test.

REFERENCE: Silcock L, Hastings R, Clokie S, et al.; Real-World Multicentre Evaluation of GALEAS Bladder for Detecting Bladder Cancer in UK NHS Haematuria Clinics; European Urology Oncology, 2026; DOI: 10.1016/j.euo.2026.08.005