On September 11, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared Vermillion’s OVA1 test for ovarian cancer. OVA1 is a blood test that can help physicians determine if a woman’s pelvic mass is at risk for being malignant (e.g. ovarian cancer). If the mass is likely to be cancerous, the woman should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist for treatment.

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance welcomes any test that helps women get diagnosed sooner, and referred to a specialist for treatment.  Studies have shown that women whose ovarian cancer surgery is performed by a gynecologic oncologist have better outcomes.

If the following symptoms occur almost daily for a month, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance advises that women see a gynecologist.  These symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

There is no definitive test for ovarian cancer, including OVA1, so this test should be combined with other tools to determine the likelihood that a pelvic mass is malignant.  Other commonly used tools include a combination of pelvic/rectal exam, a CA-125 blood test and a transvaginal ultrasound.

The test was developed by Vermillion, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company, and is only available through Quest Diagnostics, Inc. laboratories.

To read the full article on OVA1, click here.