Combined Raman-FIT Testing (CRaFT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient acceptability and clinical effectiveness of combined Raman-FIT testing for colorectal cancer diagnosis in primary care
IRAS ID
254366
Contact name
Dean A Harris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
ABM R&D Department
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 29 days
Research summary
Bowel cancer is one of the commonest cancers worldwide. Earlier detection results in better outcomes for patients and longer survival. It is a challenge for
GPs to diagnose bowel cancer and many symptomatic patients are sent to hospital for tests to rule it out. This is normally a colonoscopy, which is expensive, unpleasant and can be harmful. An accurate faecal test for blood (FIT) has just been introduced as a diagnostic tool for GPs.
We are currently working to develop a new blood test for bowel cancer using Raman spectroscopy. Early results indicate that the blood test is very good at correctly identifying patients with bowel cancer. By combining this with
the faecal sample test, we hope to further improve its accuracy.
We plan to investigate whether the Raman blood test and faeces test combination is acceptable to both patients and their GPs to help them diagnose bowel cancer.
Aim(s)
The study will ask patients and their doctors about a new blood and faeces test (Raman/FIT) that can detect bowel cancer and explore its acceptability compared to traditional tests. The study will also see how accurate the tests are at detecting bowel cancer.
What we hope to discover
By interviewing patients and doctors we hope to discover that the having the simple blood and faecal tests in primary care are an acceptable alternative to having invasive testing in hospital. We hope to learn how accurate the test needs to be in order to be accepted as an alternative way to test for bowel cancer.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/2186
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion