BCAL expands cancer detection portfolio with Avantect® Multi-Cancer launch
BCAL Diagnostics Limited (ASX: BDX) has commenced a phased introduction of Avantect® Multi-Cancer in Australia, marking its first multi-cancer early detection offering for Australian patients. The blood-based test detects cancer-associated signals across eight cancer types and provides a likely organ-of-origin signal, with the initial rollout covering Sydney and Melbourne ahead of broader national expansion. The addition brings BCAL’s portfolio to four blood-based early detection services.
The eight cancers covered by the test are lung, pancreatic, liver, ovarian, gastric, oesophageal, breast, and colorectal cancer.
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What is multi-cancer early detection and why does it matter?
A multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood test works by looking for cancer-associated signals circulating in the bloodstream. Unlike imaging scans or surgical biopsies, this approach is non-invasive, requiring only a standard blood draw.
A key feature of Avantect® Multi-Cancer is its organ-of-origin signal. If the test detects a cancer-associated signal, it also indicates which organ the signal likely came from, helping clinicians decide which follow-up investigations to pursue.
It is important to understand what the test is not. Avantect® Multi-Cancer is designed to complement established cancer screening programmes and other clinically recommended investigations, not to replace them. It is not a standalone diagnostic.
Early detection matters because cancers identified at an earlier stage are generally more treatable. Blood-based testing offers a non-invasive access point that may enable earlier assessment for patients who might not otherwise undergo routine cancer-specific screening.
Clinical validation and how Australians will access the test
The clinical performance of Avantect® Multi-Cancer is drawn from ClearNote Health’s case-control validation study, which reported the following results across all analysed cancers:
| Metric | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Overall sensitivity | 56.2% | A negative result does not exclude cancer — some cancers may not be detected |
| Specificity | 98.4% | A high rate of correctly identifying individuals without cancer-associated signals |
The 56.2% sensitivity figure is a material consideration for patients and clinicians. As stated in the announcement, a result in which no signal is detected does not exclude cancer. The test’s value lies in complementing, not replacing, existing screening pathways.
To access the test, patients must first consult a General Practitioner or Specialist who requests the service. Blood samples are then collected through BCAL’s clinical networks, with both telehealth and in-person consultations supported. Samples are processed at ClearNote Health’s CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory in the United States. Over time, BCAL is working to bring full portfolio analysis into its commercial clinical laboratory in Sydney.
The referral pathway for Avantect Multi-Cancer sits within infrastructure BCAL has been building across 2026, with the EarlyDetection platform launch in May embedding cancer test referral forms into GP software used by approximately 97% of Australian practitioners, alongside a dedicated telehealth channel via Medmate.
A growing portfolio built on existing national infrastructure
The introduction of Avantect® Multi-Cancer brings BCAL’s early detection offering to four blood-based tests, all accessible through its established clinical, referral, and patient-access infrastructure:
- BREASTESTplus™
- Avantect® Ovarian
- Avantect® Pancreatic
- Avantect® Multi-Cancer
Avantect® Multi-Cancer complements the existing cancer-specific Avantect® Ovarian and Avantect® Pancreatic tests. The phased rollout beginning in Sydney and Melbourne is designed to build Australian market experience across clinician engagement, patient demand, service delivery, pricing, and access pathways before broader national expansion.
The phased launch into Sydney and Melbourne follows BCAL’s national pathology partnerships with Sonic Healthcare and Healius, secured earlier in 2026, which established the distribution backbone for Avantect pancreatic and ovarian tests across existing clinical workflows.
The commercial basis for the Avantect range is underpinned by BCAL’s exclusive licence with ClearNote Health Inc. for the sale and distribution of Avantect tests in Australia and New Zealand.
CEO, BCAL Diagnostics
“The direction of cancer diagnostics is increasingly toward earlier, less-invasive detection, and blood-based testing has a role to play in that shift… Avantect Multi-Cancer expands our commercial portfolio and provides an opportunity to leverage our existing national infrastructure to build a broader early detection business.”
Anne-Louise Arnett, Chief Executive Officer
What investors should watch next
Investors monitoring BCAL’s progress following this announcement may consider tracking the following areas:
- Portfolio expansion: The introduction of Avantect® Multi-Cancer brings the company’s suite to four distinct blood-based early detection services, broadening its addressable patient population.
- Infrastructure leverage: The phased rollout is designed to utilise BCAL’s existing national clinical and referral networks, which may support cost-efficient commercial scaling.
- Pathway to national scale: Performance of the initial Sydney and Melbourne rollout, including clinician engagement and patient uptake, will indicate the pace of broader national expansion.
- Laboratory localisation: Progress toward bringing full portfolio analysis into BCAL’s Sydney laboratory represents a longer-term operational milestone worth monitoring.
The announcement does not disclose revenue targets, pricing, or financial projections associated with the Avantect® Multi-Cancer launch.
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