Age-based blood test thresholds for detecting ovarian cancer

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has updated their suspected cancer guideline to include new age-based-threshold for the CA125 blood test that GPs use to detect ovarian cancer. This approach aims to improve early detection of ovarian cancer in older women who are at higher risk of the disease, while reducing unnecessary investigations in younger age groups who are at lower risk. The guideline also highlights that CA125 testing alone is not sufficiently accurate for women under 40. For these patients, an ultrasound may be a more useful next step when symptoms persist.