LivingCare Group is offering the Endotest, a saliva-based diagnostic tool for endometriosis that detects a microRNA biomarker signature, following a draft guidance update from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The test addresses a diagnostic pathway that typically takes eight to ten years and often requires invasive keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic.
NICE Draft Guidance Recommends Saliva Biomarker Test
NICE updated its draft guidance following public consultation, recommending the Endotest as the only technology currently recommended for diagnosing endometriosis in primary care. According to NICE data reviewed in September, the test analyses tiny biological markers in saliva to assess whether the condition is likely to be present. The results go directly to the treating clinician to support diagnosis and further care decisions.
The Yorkshire-based healthcare provider ranks among the first in the North of England to offer the test. LivingCare Group delivers care to both private and NHS patients across Yorkshire, maintaining clinical specialisms in fertility, cardiology, musculoskeletal care, urology, and advanced diagnostics since its founding in 2002.
Clinical Impact on Extended Diagnostic Timelines
Endometriosis affects more than one in 10 women, frequently causing severe or worsening period pain, persistent bloating, and difficulty getting pregnant. Symptoms are often normalised or mistaken for other conditions, leaving patients facing debilitating pain and fertility challenges. Dr Rebecca Mawson, a general practitioner and women’s health specialist at LivingCare Group, noted the prolonged uncertainty patients face.
“For too long, women with endometriosis have had to live with pain and uncertainty while waiting for answers – often for years at a time,”
“represents a really important shift in how we think about diagnosis, and has the potential to be genuinely pivotal for women’s health.”
Dr Mawson also serves as an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Primary Care at the University of Sheffield, focusing her research on improving access to and experiences of women’s healthcare.
Expanding Non-Invasive Women’s Health Services
Alongside the Endotest rollout, LivingCare Group launched the WID-easy service. This non-invasive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test helps doctors assess women aged 45 and over who experience unusual bleeding, identifying those at greater risk of bowel and womb cancer. Both services form part of the provider’s broader initiative to bring emerging diagnostics closer to patients and raise awareness of historically overlooked conditions.
Did You Know?
The standard diagnostic pathway for endometriosis has historically involved invasive keyhole surgery, contributing to average diagnostic delays of nearly a decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Endotest?
The Endotest is a saliva-based diagnostic test that detects a microRNA biomarker signature to assess the likelihood of endometriosis.
How long does endometriosis typically take to diagnose?
The average diagnosis time for endometriosis ranges between 8 and 10 years.
Who is eligible for the WID-easy service?
The WID-easy PCR test is designed to help doctors assess women aged 45 and over who experience unusual bleeding.
Where is the Endotest available?
LivingCare Group offers the test across Yorkshire, making it one of the first providers in the North of England to supply the technology following NICE draft guidance.
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