Human Reproduction: World's first blood-based endometriosis test developed

Australian medical technology company Proteomics International has announced successful trials of the world's first non-invasive test for endometriosis, which could become available as early as the second quarter of 2025. The promising new research was published in the international journal Human Reproduction.

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition in which tissue like the lining of the uterus grows outside the organ, causing painful lesions. This condition can cause severe pain and reduce quality of life. However, it often takes up to seven years for endometriosis to be diagnosed because its symptoms vary, are difficult to measure, and often go undetected.

Today, the only reliable diagnostic method is surgical laparoscopy, an invasive and expensive method.

A new test called PromarkerEndo, however, offers a revolutionary solution to detect this disease through a blood test. To create it, researchers compared the blood tests of 749 participants. With the help of protein analysis algorithms in the blood, they identified 10 proteins associated with endometriosis.

In a recent clinical trial, the test was 99.7% accurate in detecting advanced endometriosis and more than 85% accurate in the early stages of the disease. According to gynecologist Peter Rogers, the co-author of the work, "These results are a significant step towards solving the critical need for a non-invasive, accurate test that can diagnose endometriosis at an early stage as well as when it is more advanced."

Proteomics International has already filed patents for PromarkerEndo in major jurisdictions, including Australia. But its formal introduction requires approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.

If the test passes the necessary tests, it could become the first reliable method of early diagnosis of endometriosis without surgery, and this will change the approach to treatment and the quality of life for millions of women around the world.

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