The NHS is testing a new rapid genomic test to speed up brain tumour diagnoses, cutting wait times from weeks to days. The pilot, now expanding across England’s specialist centres, analyses DNA from a small tumour sample taken during biopsy or surgery, helping doctors pinpoint the tumour type faster than traditional microscope-based testing.
Current diagnosis relies on MRI and CT scans followed by laboratory analysis, which can delay results for weeks. The new method provides genetic data within hours or days, enabling quicker treatment decisions and access to clinical trials. Surgeons may even use the results to adjust surgery plans while patients are still in the operating room.
Professor Frankie Swords, the NHS medical director, called the test a “huge leap forward” for patients. “Waiting weeks for answers can be agonising,” the director noted, adding that faster results could help doctors tailor treatments or enrol patients in trials sooner. The technology also supports real-time surgical choices that could improve outcomes.
Yvette Cooper, the Health and Social Care Secretary, highlighted the UK’s leadership in genomics, saying the innovation puts NHS patients among the first globally to benefit from such advances. She tied the progress to the National Cancer Plan’s funding and the service’s expertise, framing it as a step toward better survival chances for brain tumour patients.
