Eight out of 10 patients who underwent a capsule sponge test for Barrett’s oesophagus did not need any further investigations, including endoscopy, a trial of over 8500 people in England has found.
The test involves patients swallowing a small capsule shaped device which contains a tiny sponge that collects cells for analysis as it is pulled back up through the oesophagus by a string. It does not require sedation and in a survey of 350 people who had the test, 94% said they experienced only mild pain or none at all.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, …