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More research needed for interesting new ovarian cancer blood test

A new blood test called the Avantect Ovarian Cancer Test is being explored as a possible tool to help detect ovarian cancer earlier, primarily in women at high risk. 

Early studies have shown some promise, and the test is currently being evaluated in clinical trials overseas. However, it is still in the early stages of research, and more evidence is needed to understand how well it works in real-world settings. 

It is available privately in Australia through the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) regulations (not part of the clinical trial). The test does not yet have US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approvals. 

Important things to know about the Avantect Test 

  • It is not a diagnostic test: a result showing “signal detected” does not mean someone definitely has ovarian cancer. It means further assessment is needed, such as imaging (MRI or ultrasounds), specialist review, and potentially a tissue biopsy. 
  • Not failsafe: The test may miss some ovarian cancers, and sometimes detect a signal when cancer is not present. A result of “signal not detected” does not completely rule out ovarian cancer. 
  • Results should be considered alongside symptoms and risk factors: This test is designed to support clinical care, not replace medical advice or attention to new, ongoing or persistent symptoms.

It is important that individuals who receive a “no signal detected” result, but who have an increased risk, a family history, or ongoing symptoms of ovarian cancer, continue to seek medical advice. This test does not replace current clinical guidelines. 

More research is still needed  

At present, there is very limited peer-reviewed data on the Avantect test for ovarian cancer. The most recent published study (2025), which describes optimisation of the test, included only 42 ovarian cancer samples primarily from individuals of European ancestry. The test is not currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). While the company reports that the test has been evaluated in more than 300 patients, including individuals at high risk of ovarian cancer, this data has not yet been publicly released or peer reviewed. 

The company behind Avantect, ClearNote Health, reports a sensitivity of 78.2% and a specificity of 94% for the test in epithelial ovarian cancer. This means there is still a risk of false negatives (missing cancer) and false positives (detecting cancer when it isn’t present). For example, a sensitivity of 78.2% means the test could miss ovarian cancer in around 1 out of every 5 people who have the disease. 

Achieving both high sensitivity and high specificity is particularly challenging for rare cancers like ovarian cancer, where the disease can differ across patients and symptoms overlap with many non-cancer conditions. 

The Avantect test has been selected as one of the tests in a large US trial (called the Vanguard study) examining how well it detects ovarian cancer, in addition to other cancers such as pancreatic cancer. These trials are an important step in understanding how accurate the test is, who may benefit most, and how (or if) it could be used in routine clinical care. 

Early findings are interesting, but more research is required before this test could be included in clinical guidelines or integrated into the Australian health system.

Any advance that could help detect ovarian cancer early or earlier is of interest. Early results from the Avantect test show promise. However, they are based on a small sample size and have not yet been peer reviewed. More evidence is needed before we understand how well it works in real-world settings and who it may benefit. We will watch out for further published findings with interest.” 

David Hunt, Research and Policy Director, OCRF

Talk to a doctor first 

Anyone considering this test should speak with a doctor beforehand, especially to discuss symptoms, personal and family cancer history, and whether the test is appropriate for them. This test should not replace existing medical care or delay further investigation of concerning symptoms. 

The Avantect test is currently only available privately for $1,495 and is not covered by Medicare. Suitability can be discussed with a GP, who can order the test through BCAL Diagnostics and provide a Sonic Healthcare pathology referral (from February 2026). It can also be accessed directly through medical practitioners at the Sydney Breast Clinic. 

OCRF and early detection research  

Ovarian cancer is not a single disease, but a group of different subtypes, each with distinct origins, growth patterns and biology. This means a test that works for one subtype may miss others entirely. 

As Australia’s leading independent funder of ovarian cancer research, OCRF is committed to supporting the development of early detection tests. Many promising projects are underway in Australia and internationally, including several funded by OCRF. This includes major initiatives such as Professor Carlos Salomon Gallo’s OCRF-7 blood biomarker test, which is soon to enter phase I feasibility trials in Australia; Dr Andrew Stephen’s Active Ratio Test, and Associate Professor Jason Lee’s blood RNA biomarker test. OCRF has supported multiple other early detection tests that are at different stages of the research pipeline. 

Research remains essential to ensure that any future test is safe, accurate, and genuinely beneficial for people at risk of developing ovarian cancer. 

The OCRF believes that early detection of ovarian cancer is key to saving lives from the disease. Read this recent article from our All Over It series to learn more.  

The following is the disclaimer from Avantect’s website: 

Disclaimer

“The Avantect Ovarian Cancer Test is an early detection test. The test does not establish a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and results should be considered in the context of other clinical criteria. Definitive diagnosis of ovarian cancer usually requires a series of imaging scans, blood tests, and a biopsy. Not all ovarian cancers will be detected. Some patients with ovarian cancer may have a “Signal not detected” result. Some patients without ovarian cancer may have a “Signal detected” result. False-negative and false-positive results are possible. A “Signal not detected” result does not guarantee that no ovarian cancer is present. In some cases, no result is obtained. While this is very uncommon, it may be caused by shipping delays or when there is not enough cell-free DNA for the test in the patient’s blood. If this happens, we generally ask for a repeat blood sample for testing at no extra cost. 

The test was developed in the ClearNote Health CLIA-certified (CLIA# 05D2249973) and CAP-accredited (CAP# 9219174) laboratory and has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW MEDICAL RESEARCH REALLY WORKS

Explore our All Over It articles to cut through the noise and learn how real medical research works — from early discovery to clinical trials. Understand what’s proven, what’s not, and why evidence matters.

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The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands upon which we work, strive, and learn, the Wurrundjiri Woi wurrung and Bunorung Boon wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia and beyond.