Polycystic ovary syndrome test has potential to improve patient experience and reduce NHS carbon footprint

A new blood test has been developed to help diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common condition affecting women of reproductive age. The simple test can be incorporated into routine phlebotomy appointments, eliminating the need for an invasive ultrasound scan and an additional hospital visit. By simplifying the diagnostic process, the test can reduce waiting times, improve the patient experience and lower the carbon footprint. The test also contributes to addressing health inequalities. Amelia James, Environmental Sustainability Lead at Health Innovation KSS and Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley worked with the team at Roche Diagnostics who developed the test, to explore and quantify its potential environmental benefits.

What unmet healthcare need does this innovation address?

PCOS affects an estimated one million women in the UK aged 25-45, although an estimated 70 per cent are undiagnosed. It is caused by an imbalance in hormone levels. Women with PCOS are more susceptible to complications such as fertility issues, preeclampsia during pregnancy, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, endometrial hyperplasia (a precursor to cancer), depression and sleep apnoea. Early and accurate diagnosis of PCOS enables timely support, mitigating future health risks and enabling women to better manage their symptoms. Currently an internal ultrasound scan can help confirm diagnosis. But patients can face a lengthy wait of many months followed by a trip to hospital for an uncomfortable procedure. As a result, some do not attend their appointment. The condition is more prevalent in South Asian women. Therefore, there are health equality benefits to streamlining and simplifying the diagnostic process.

What did we do?

Roche Diagnostics have developed the Elecsys Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Plus immunoassay blood test which is a potential alternative to the transvaginal ultrasound scan currently used in confirming polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) as an aid to diagnosing PCOS. The new test can be integrated into existing phlebotomy appointments, eliminating the need for an additional hospital visit. The Health Innovation Networks worked with Roche to explore and quantify the environmental benefits of the blood test. This collaboration was aimed at understanding the potential carbon savings derived from adopting this innovative diagnostic method.

How is this contributing to environmental sustainability?

It is estimated that the carbon footprint of an outpatient appointment is the same as 63 blood tests. Replacing an ultrasound scan at a hospital with a blood test at a local clinic therefore has the potential to significantly reduce NHS carbon emissions. The new diagnostic pathway, which integrates a blood test into the existing phlebotomy appointment, eliminates the need for an additional outpatient appointment. The Greener NHS team predicts that one outpatient appointment, including emissions from patient and staff travel, electricity and gas for the building, along with embedded emissions in the goods and services used to provide the appointment, equates to 22kg of CO₂e. Set against this is 0.346kg for a single blood test. The estimated overall carbon reduction for the NHS related to switching to the blood test is approximately 3,000 tonnes of CO₂e – the equivalent of 15 million car miles.

What people said

“A simple blood test to help diagnose PCOS can help join the dots up a bit sooner and might make the path to diagnosis a lot shorter. I hope that no one has to wait eleven years like I had to wait.” – Rachel Morman, PCOS Patient & Chair of patient organisation Verity PCOS.

“It’s well over time that we should have tests like these for conditions like PCOS, which has been so poorly recognised and supported over the years. Being able to do a blood test gives us a great alternative option for many women.” – Dr Anne Connolly, GP.

“We collaborated with the Health Innovation Networks to thoroughly understand and demonstrate the impact from the environmental and sustainability perspective.” – Julia Eades, Senior Market Access Manager, Women’s Health, Roche Diagnostics.

What next?

The next steps are to inform healthcare professionals and commissioners, and women generally, that this simple blood test is now available as an alternative to a more invasive transvaginal ultrasound. This model could serve as a blueprint for integrating similar sustainable practices in other areas of healthcare delivery, supporting the NHS towards its ambition to achieve net zero by 2040.

To find out more, contact: amelia.james2@nhs.net