The Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Trust (RDUH) has become the first NHS trust to implement a new algorithm for routine blood analysis, which aims to enhance the detection of elevated blood platelet levels that could indicate cancer.

The study received funding from philanthropist David Walton, who expressed enthusiasm about its potential to improve early cancer detection efforts.

This innovative pilot program will launch in five medical practices across Devon, with an expectation of flagging around 500 patients annually for raised platelet levels, of which approximately 20 may have undiagnosed cancer.

Professor Tim McDonald pointed out that integrating this research into routine testing is straightforward and could substantially enhance early cancer detection.

Professor Bailey emphasized that the findings provide general practitioners with crucial insights into interpreting high platelet counts as potential indicators of cancer.

An evaluation of the new test's effectiveness in prompting earlier cancer diagnosis is being conducted by the University of Exeter, the Peninsula Cancer Alliance, and RDUH, with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The project, named High or Elevated Level of Platelets (HELP) Flag, utilizes anonymized electronic health records to explore the relationship between platelet counts and subsequent cancer diagnoses.

Under this system, doctors will receive alerts for patients with high platelet counts, accompanied by guidance on the necessary steps for further investigation.

If successfully implemented nationwide, this system could significantly improve early cancer diagnosis and enhance patient outcomes.

Platelets, which are small blood cells crucial for clotting, can have elevated counts associated with various cancers, including lung and bowel cancer.

Dr. Nada Khan highlighted the significant implications of this research on clinical practices, particularly in facilitating timely referrals for further investigation of high platelet counts.

Led by Professor Sarah Bailey, the study analyzed data from over six million adults across Canada, England, and Australia, proposing new thresholds for platelet counts tailored to individual variations to improve the timing of cancer diagnoses.