A HIGH-TECH test has been launched in Shenzhen enabling doctors to detect a person who is likely to have any of 10 common cancers with just 2 ml of blood.

　　Doctors at the Clinical Medicine Science Research Center under Shenzhen People’s Hospital told the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily that the protein chip test system was able to detect liver, lung, stomach, esophagus, prostate, breast, pancreas, ovary, rectum and colon cancers at a very early stage.

　　More than 200 people have used the service in the past two weeks. The results of seven were found to be abnormal, the Daily said yesterday.

　　Traditional tests cover only two to three indices but the protein chip system can test 12 items at the same time, with the results more reliable and accurate.

　　Dr. Li Furong of the center said more than 80 percent of the test results were accurate and the test was best for cancer patients at an early stage.

　　The test was especially suitable for those who were more susceptible to cancers but had not shown any symptoms, including “cancer family” members, people who had suddenly lost weight and those above 40, Dr. Li said.

　　Those with abnormal results have to pass further tests. The hospital said it would follow up each case with another test a month later to exclude non-cancer factors that might have caused abnormal results.

　　The system has been used in clinical tests in Beijing and Shanghai since it was approved by the State Drug Administration in January, Dr. Li said.

　　A test using the procedure now costs 480 yuan (US$58). But Dr. Li expected the cost to be reduced if the technology becomes popular.

　　At lower cost, the procedure could be expected to become a common test for many people who have shown no symptoms but could develop a cancer later in life.

　　Cancer is one of the most deadly diseases in China, with the death rate reaching 24.38 percent. Early diagnose is regarded as most important in curing the disease.

　　The rates of successful treatment for early-stage patients reaches more than 80 percent while the figures for interim and late-stage patients have only a 20 to 30 percent success rate.(Lin Min)