Introducing the EpiSwitch® prostate cancer detection test
We are now offering the Prostate Screening EpiSwitch® (PSE) test, a cutting-edge diagnostic test for prostate cancer. The PSE test is offered alongside the standard Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, to help guide prostate cancer screening and diagnosis and can boost the accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer to 94%. This compares to the 55% accuracy of the standard Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test alone.
The PSA test looks at the level of the prostate specific antigen in the blood. A high level of PSA can indicate a prostate condition, including prostate cancer. There are also some other conditions, such as enlarged prostate, that can cause PSA levels in the blood to rise.
The PSE test focuses on five specific biomarkers in immune cells which, together, are specifically related to prostate cancer.
By analysing these five markers, together with the PSA result, the PSE test provides a more comprehensive assessment of prostate cancer risk than PSA alone. The EpiSwitch® PSE blood test improves prostate cancer detection by reducing unnecessary biopsies by up to 79% (i).
We provide the PSE test at Thames View, our private care facility at Charing Cross Hospital. Patients will have a blood test at their initial consultation and any questions they have will be answered by one of our expert consultants. The blood sample is sent to Oxford BioDynamics, who use advanced technology to diagnose whether prostate cancer is present. The test results will indicate either a ‘low likelihood’ or ‘high likelihood’ of prostate cancer.
Test results are returned to the consultant urologist within five to seven working days, after which patients will schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss the findings.
A ‘low likelihood’ result usually means that prostate cancer is not present in more than nine out of ten men. Based on this result – and considering family history and other risk factors - the consultant urologist may determine that no further procedures are necessary.
A ‘high likelihood’ result suggests prostate cancer is present in nine out of ten men. In this case, the patient will be offered an MRI and possibly a biopsy at the earliest opportunity and the consultant urologist will outline the next steps and recommend a personalised treatment plan.
Commenting on the launch of this service, Mr Mathias Winkler, consultant urologist said, “Offering the Prostate Screening EpiSwitch® test will make a real difference to patients’ lives by significantly improving the accuracy of prostate cancer detection, potentially reducing the number of unnecessary and invasive procedures like biopsies. We would encourage patients who have symptoms of prostate cancer to book a consultation with us to find out more.”
Click here to learn more about the EpiSwitch® prostate cancer detection test.
(i) EpiSwitch PSE Blood Test Reduces Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies: A Real-World Clinical Utility Study, Cancers 2025
