
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 5, 1990                   TAG: 9004060762
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-16   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BOSTON                                LENGTH: Short

CANCER-SCREENING TEST DOESN'T WORK

A test that appeared to detect all forms of cancer from small samples of blood has failed to work except in the hands of the doctor who developed it, according to two reports published today.

Both studies conclude that the test, developed by Dr. Eric T. Fossel of Boston's Beth Israel Hospital, cannot reliably distinguish cancer patients' blood from healthy people's.

But for reasons researchers cannot explain, the test still seems to work for its developer, who declined to discuss the latest findings.

-Associated Press

by CNB