The future of cancer detection is coming to Epicentre
A new liquid biopsy test, built on the same precision science trusted by leading laboratories around the world, and designed to be accessible right here in South Africa.
Join the waitlistLaunching this year. No spam, just one message the moment it goes live.
For decades, looking inside the body for cancer has meant scans, waiting, and often an invasive tissue biopsy. A quieter revolution has been building in laboratories worldwide: the ability to look for cancer-associated signals in a single tube of blood. Epicentre is bringing that science to South Africa.
In brief
- Epicentre is developing a liquid biopsy: a test that looks for cancer-associated genetic signals in a single blood sample.
- It runs on droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), a high-precision technique already used in our molecular laboratory, and is led by Professor Veron Ramsuran.
- It is a detection aid that complements standard screening. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not replace your regular check-ups.
- It is launching this year. Pricing is not confirmed yet. Join the waitlist and we will message you on WhatsApp the moment it goes live.
We are developing a new liquid biopsy test, led by the team in our molecular laboratory. It is one of the most exciting projects in Epicentre's history, and we want our community to be the first to hear about it.
Why this matters in South Africa
Cancer is responsible for roughly one in ten deaths in South Africa, and too often it is found late. In breast cancer, for example, published South African research has reported that more than half of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when treatment is harder and outcomes are poorer. Late diagnosis is driven by real, everyday barriers: distance from specialist care, cost, and limited access to advanced diagnostics.
Finding signals of cancer earlier, from something as simple as a blood draw, could help close part of that gap. That is the promise this field is working towards, and it is why we are investing in it.
What is a liquid biopsy?
As cells grow and renew, they release tiny fragments of genetic material into the bloodstream. Tumours can do the same, shedding fragments known as circulating tumour DNA, or ctDNA. A liquid biopsy reads these fragments from a blood sample, looking for the genetic signals that can be associated with cancer.
Because it needs only blood, a liquid biopsy is far less invasive than a traditional tissue biopsy, and a sample can be taken in minutes at a walk-in lab.
In plain terms
- Liquid biopsy
- A test that looks for cancer-associated genetic signals in a sample of blood, rather than in a piece of tissue.
- Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA)
- Tiny fragments of genetic material that tumours can shed into the bloodstream.
- Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)
- A laboratory technique that splits a sample into tens of thousands of droplets and reads each one, making it sensitive enough to pick up a rare signal.
The science behind our test: droplet digital PCR
Epicentre's test is built on droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), a technique our laboratory already uses for high-precision molecular testing. ddPCR splits a single blood sample into tens of thousands of microscopic droplets and examines each one on its own. By checking so many droplets individually, it can pick out a rare cancer-associated DNA signal even when it is vastly outnumbered by normal DNA.
This is the same class of precision technology trusted by leading laboratories internationally. Its strengths are exactly what a fast, accessible test needs: it is highly sensitive for known genetic signals, it gives a precise reading, and it is quicker and more affordable than the large sequencing approaches used by some overseas tests.
How it will work
A simple blood drawBooked at an Epicentre walk-in lab, taken in minutes by a trained professional.
We isolate the DNA fragmentsTiny pieces of genetic material are separated from your blood sample in our laboratory.
Droplet digital PCR analysisThe sample is split into thousands of droplets and checked for cancer-associated genetic signals.
Results, explainedYour results are prepared for review and should be discussed with a healthcare practitioner.
What's happening around the world
Liquid biopsy is one of the fastest-moving areas in modern medicine. Here is some of the work that has shown what is possible.
Galleri (GRAIL)
United States · United Kingdom
Looks for a signal shared across many cancer types from a single blood sample. Offered as a laboratory-developed test and used alongside standard screening.
List price around US$949Shield (Guardant Health)
United States
The first blood test approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer in average-risk adults.
Cash price around US$1,495Signatera (Natera)
United States · global
A personalised blood test that monitors people already diagnosed with cancer, watching for early signs that disease may be returning.
Used in cancer monitoringWhere Epicentre fits in
These international tests have shown the potential of liquid biopsy. They have also shown the challenge: they often cost the equivalent of tens of thousands of rand, they are rarely available in South Africa, and the science is still maturing. Even the largest international trials are still defining exactly how and when each one helps most.
Epicentre's commitment is to bring this technology to South Africa responsibly and grounded in evidence. We are not claiming to match the scale of these international programmes. We are using the precision of droplet digital PCR, led by Professor Veron Ramsuran, to build a focused, accessible test that complements the screening your healthcare practitioner already recommends.
Professor Veron Ramsuran
Head of laboratory innovation, Epicentre
This project is led by Professor Veron Ramsuran, who heads innovation in Epicentre's molecular laboratory. A distinguished South African geneticist, his career spans the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), and CAPRISA, with postdoctoral training at the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard.
His recognition includes a University of KwaZulu-Natal Vice-Chancellor's Research Award, and his expertise in human genetics is exactly what a project like this needs: the precision to read the body's genetic signals, and the rigour to interpret them responsibly.
Important to understand
- It is a detection aid, not a diagnosis. A liquid biopsy looks for genetic signals associated with cancer. A result is not a diagnosis, and any signal of interest would always be followed up with further testing.
- It works alongside your regular checks, not instead of them. This test is designed to complement the screening your healthcare practitioner already recommends, such as mammograms, Pap smears, and colonoscopies. It does not replace them.
- No test is perfect. Like all tests, a liquid biopsy can occasionally return a false positive or a false negative. That is exactly why it is used to add information, alongside established methods, rather than on its own.
- Always discuss results with a healthcare practitioner. Your results are there to inform a conversation about your health, not to replace professional medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
When will Epicentre's liquid biopsy test be available?
It is launching this year. An exact date has not been confirmed yet. The best way to be told the moment it goes live is to join the waitlist on this page.
Is the liquid biopsy test available to book now?
Not yet. The test is still in development and is launching this year. You cannot book it today, but you can join the waitlist so that you are among the first to be told when booking opens.
How will I be told when the test launches?
When you join the waitlist we will send you one WhatsApp message the moment the test goes live, with pricing and how to book. That is the only reason we will message you: no marketing, and you can opt out at any time. This is why a mobile number is needed to join.
How much will the liquid biopsy test cost?
Pricing has not been finalised. Comparable tests overseas often cost the equivalent of tens of thousands of rand. Our aim is to make this test far more accessible in South Africa. Waitlist members will be told the price as soon as it is confirmed.
Does the liquid biopsy replace my regular check-ups or screening?
No. It is designed to work alongside the checks your healthcare practitioner already recommends, such as mammograms, Pap smears, and colonoscopies. It complements those checks, it does not replace them.
Is a liquid biopsy result a cancer diagnosis?
No. A liquid biopsy looks for genetic signals associated with cancer. A result is not a diagnosis. Any signal of interest would always be followed up with further testing, and all results should be discussed with a healthcare practitioner.
What is droplet digital PCR?
Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a laboratory technique that splits a blood sample into tens of thousands of tiny droplets and checks each one individually. This makes it precise enough to detect a rare cancer-associated DNA signal even when it is present at very low levels, on the order of 0.01 percent.
Who is leading Epicentre's liquid biopsy research?
The project is led by Professor Veron Ramsuran, head of innovation in Epicentre's molecular laboratory. He is a South African geneticist whose career spans the University of KwaZulu-Natal, KRISP, and CAPRISA, with postdoctoral training at the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard.
Join the waitlist
It is launching this year. Add your details below and we will let you know the moment the test goes live, along with pricing and how to book.
You're on the list
Thank you. You will be among the first to hear when our liquid biopsy test goes live, along with pricing and booking details.
In the meantime, you are welcome to message us on WhatsApp on 072 843 7564 with any questions.
