How Does TruCheck Work? The Multi-Cancer Screening Process Explained
A step-by-step guide to how the TruCheck Intelli blood test detects circulating tumour cells, from your appointment through to your written report — and exactly what happens between the two.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. TruCheck is a screening test, not a diagnostic one. If you have symptoms that concern you, please see your GP or contact NHS 111.
TruCheck Intelli works by detecting circulating tumour cells (CTCs) — cells shed by solid tumours into the bloodstream — from a single venous blood sample. The blood is analysed at the Datar Cancer Genetics laboratory, and where CTCs are found, the analysis also identifies the likely tissue or organ of origin. You receive a full written report within 12 to 15 working days.
That is the short answer. This article walks through the full process step by step, so you can understand exactly what happens between booking the test and receiving your report — and, if you decide to go ahead, exactly what is included with the TruCheck Multi Cancer Screening service at Swift Blood Tests.
What is TruCheck?
TruCheck Intelli is a private, blood-based multi-cancer screening test developed by Datar Cancer Genetics. It has been designed for asymptomatic adults — typically aged 40 and over — who want to add a proactive layer of cancer screening to their regular health monitoring.
Unlike traditional single-cancer tests, TruCheck screens for signals associated with over 70 different solid tumour types from one blood sample. The test is offered privately in the UK through a small number of providers, including Swift Blood Tests.
Key point
TruCheck is a screening test, not a diagnostic one. It flags whether further clinical investigation is warranted; it does not confirm or rule out cancer on its own. That distinction matters, and it runs through the rest of this article.
How TruCheck detects cancer
TruCheck works because most solid tumours shed cells into the bloodstream at very low concentrations, often before any symptoms appear. These cells are called circulating tumour cells, or CTCs. TruCheck is designed to isolate and analyse them.
The full process from booking to receiving your report takes around two and a half to three weeks. Here is what happens at each stage.
Blood sample collection
Your appointment starts with a standard venous blood draw. A trained phlebotomist takes 25ml of blood — roughly two tablespoons — from a vein in your arm. The blood draw itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes and is no different from any other blood test you may have had.
Swift Blood Tests offers three ways to have the sample taken: at a clinic appointment, by a nurse-led home visit within Essex, or through a home kit that is posted to you. All three routes go through the same laboratory analysis.
Sample transport to the laboratory
Once the sample has been collected, it is packaged under temperature-controlled conditions and dispatched by courier to the Datar Cancer Genetics laboratory. Temperature control matters because circulating tumour cells are fragile — if the sample is not handled correctly, the analysis will not be reliable.
This is one of the parts of the process most competitor pages skip over. The £1,200 price does not just cover the blood draw; it covers the specialist logistics needed to get your sample to the laboratory in the condition required for CTC analysis.
Isolating circulating tumour cells
At the laboratory, your blood sample is processed using Datar’s proprietary CTC isolation technology. The lab separates any circulating tumour cells from the vastly more numerous normal blood cells, and it looks for both individual cells and clusters of cells (sometimes called C-ETACs) associated with cancer.
Because CTCs are present at extremely low concentrations — often fewer than ten cells per 10ml of blood, against a background of billions of normal blood cells — this process needs specialised equipment and expertise. That is why TruCheck is analysed in a single central laboratory rather than at your local clinic.
Identifying tissue of origin
If circulating tumour cells are detected, the analysis goes a step further. The laboratory characterises the molecular profile of the cells and, where possible, identifies the likely tissue or organ they originated from — for example the breast, the colon or the lungs.
This tissue-of-origin indication is one of TruCheck’s genuine strengths. A positive result that also points to a likely origin gives your clinician a targeted starting point for follow-up investigations, rather than a broad and unfocused search.
Your written report
Your full written report is issued within 12 to 15 working days of your sample being collected. The report is comprehensive rather than a simple positive-or-negative summary. Where circulating tumour cells are found, it includes the tissue-of-origin indication and any relevant technical notes the laboratory has recorded.
If you want to know exactly what is included in the service alongside the test itself — from booking support to help discussing your results with a clinician — see what the TruCheck service includes on the Swift Blood Tests service page.
Want to see what the TruCheck service includes?
The full service details, current price and three booking options are on the Swift Blood Tests service page.
View TruCheck Multi Cancer ScreeningWhat are circulating tumour cells (CTCs)?
Circulating tumour cells are cells that have broken away from a solid tumour and entered the bloodstream. They are found in the blood of many people with certain cancers, but not in the blood of people without cancer.
For decades, detecting CTCs was practically impossible because they are so rare. Newer isolation techniques such as the one used by TruCheck have made routine CTC-based screening possible from a standard blood sample.
Is TruCheck a liquid biopsy?
Yes, technically. “Liquid biopsy” is a broad term for any test that analyses tumour-derived material from a blood sample rather than from tissue. TruCheck falls into this category. Specifically, it is a whole-cell (CTC) liquid biopsy — different from tests such as Galleri, which look at DNA methylation patterns in cell-free DNA rather than at intact cells.
What happens during a TruCheck appointment?
For most people, having a TruCheck test is straightforward and takes very little of your time.
- No fasting is required. You can eat and drink normally before your appointment.
- No special preparation is needed. There are no supplements or medications to stop.
- The blood draw itself takes 10 to 15 minutes.
- You do not need a GP referral to book privately.
If you have chosen a clinic appointment, you attend a Swift Blood Tests clinic and the phlebotomist takes your sample. If you have chosen a home visit within Essex, a nurse comes to you. If you have chosen the home-kit option, the kit is posted to you with clear instructions.
You can compare all three collection routes on the TruCheck screening service page.
How long do TruCheck results take?
Swift Blood Tests currently issues the full written TruCheck report within 12 to 15 working days of your sample being collected — around two and a half to three calendar weeks.
The turnaround reflects the specialist nature of the analysis. Isolating and characterising rare cells is significantly more involved than a routine blood test, and the laboratory prioritises accuracy over speed.
Current booking availability and turnaround are shown on the current TruCheck service details page.
What happens if TruCheck detects CTCs?
A positive TruCheck result — one that identifies circulating tumour cells in your sample — does not mean you have cancer. It means further clinical investigation is recommended.
At this point, the process becomes a clinical one. Your written report, including the tissue-of-origin indication where available, is designed to be taken to your GP or a specialist so that appropriate follow-up tests — for example imaging or a biopsy — can be arranged. The tissue-of-origin indication helps direct those follow-up investigations rather than leaving them exploratory.
Swift Blood Tests supports you through this step. The team can help you take the report to your GP or a specialist, so that the private test result becomes part of your care rather than something you have to translate on your own.
What TruCheck does not detect
Being clear about the limits of the test is as important as being clear about what it does. TruCheck is designed for solid tumours only. It is not intended to detect:
- Blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma
- Primary brain and central nervous system tumours
- Non-solid tumours and some rare cancer types
If you have a specific concern in one of these categories, TruCheck is unlikely to be the right test on its own. Speak to your GP so the appropriate diagnostic pathway can be arranged.
TruCheck is not designed for people who currently have symptoms that could be caused by cancer. If you have symptoms — for example unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, a new lump or a change in bowel habit — please see your GP or contact NHS 111. Symptoms need diagnostic investigation, not screening.
Does TruCheck replace NHS cancer screening?
No. TruCheck is designed to sit alongside NHS cancer screening, not to replace it.
The NHS runs national screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancer, plus lung health checks for some higher-risk groups. These programmes are backed by decades of evidence and remain the primary route to catching those specific cancers early. If you are invited to NHS screening, you should attend — regardless of whether you also choose a private multi-cancer test.
What TruCheck adds is broader coverage in a single sitting and on-demand availability. It screens for signals associated with over 70 solid tumour types from one blood sample, rather than the three cancers routinely screened for by the NHS. That is what people typically pay for: additional cover, on top of NHS screening rather than instead of it.
What does the TruCheck service include?
At Swift Blood Tests, TruCheck Intelli is offered as a single package priced at £1,200. That covers the full pathway rather than the blood draw alone:
| Included | Detail |
|---|---|
| Blood sample collection | At a clinic, by home visit within Essex, or via a home kit posted to you |
| Sample transport | Temperature-controlled courier to the Datar Cancer Genetics laboratory |
| Laboratory analysis | TruCheck Intelli CTC analysis, including tissue-of-origin identification where cells are detected |
| Written report | Full report within 12 to 15 working days of sample collection |
| Team support | Before you book, and help discussing your report with your GP or specialist after your result |
There are no separate laboratory or courier fees added at checkout. Because pricing and availability can change over time, we recommend confirming the current figure and what is included on the TruCheck Multi Cancer Screening service page before you book.
Ready to see the full TruCheck service?
View the current price, the three booking options and full service details on the Swift Blood Tests service page.
See TruCheck service detailsHow to book a TruCheck test
Booking is done online and takes a few minutes.
- Visit the TruCheck service page to see current pricing and availability.
- Choose your collection method: clinic visit, home visit within Essex, or home kit via post.
- Select your preferred date, time or delivery slot.
- Complete your booking. Payment is taken at the point of booking, and you receive email confirmation with pre-appointment guidance.
- Attend your appointment or arrange your sample collection. Your written report is issued within 12 to 15 working days.
If you would rather speak to someone before booking, call 01277 652067 or email enquiries@swiftbloodtests.co.uk.
Frequently asked questions
How does the TruCheck blood test work?
TruCheck Intelli works by detecting circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in a 25ml venous blood sample. The sample is sent to the Datar Cancer Genetics laboratory, where the cells are isolated and analysed. Where CTCs are found, the laboratory also identifies the likely tissue or organ of origin. You receive a full written report within 12 to 15 working days.
What are circulating tumour cells?
Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are cells that have broken away from a solid tumour and entered the bloodstream. They are found in the blood of many people with certain cancers, but not in the blood of people without cancer. TruCheck is designed to isolate and analyse these cells so that solid tumours can be identified at cell level from a routine blood sample.
Is TruCheck a liquid biopsy?
Yes, technically. Liquid biopsy is a broad term for any test that analyses tumour-derived material from a blood sample rather than from tissue. TruCheck falls into this category, but it is specifically a whole-cell (CTC) liquid biopsy — different from tests that look at DNA fragments in the blood.
How much blood is taken for TruCheck, and do I need to fast beforehand?
A 25ml venous blood sample is taken, which is roughly two tablespoons. You do not need to fast before a TruCheck test, and no special preparation is required. You can eat and drink normally.
What happens during a TruCheck appointment?
A trained phlebotomist takes a 25ml venous blood sample from a vein in your arm. The draw itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You can have the sample taken at a Swift Blood Tests clinic, by a nurse-led home visit within Essex, or through a home kit that is posted to you.
What happens to my blood sample after it is taken?
Your sample is packaged under temperature-controlled conditions and sent by courier to the Datar Cancer Genetics laboratory. There, the laboratory isolates and analyses any circulating tumour cells present, using Datar’s specialist CTC isolation technology.
Can TruCheck tell where the cancer is?
Where circulating tumour cells are detected, TruCheck also indicates the likely tissue or organ of origin. This helps your clinician direct follow-up investigations to the most relevant area rather than searching broadly.
How long do TruCheck results take?
Swift Blood Tests issues the full written report within 12 to 15 working days of your sample being collected — around two and a half to three calendar weeks.
Does TruCheck detect all cancers?
No. TruCheck is designed to detect signals associated with over 70 solid tumour types. It does not detect blood cancers (such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma), primary brain and central nervous system tumours, or every rare cancer.
Is TruCheck a diagnostic test or a screening test?
TruCheck is a screening test, not a diagnostic one. A positive result flags that further clinical investigation is recommended. Only follow-up assessment — such as imaging or a biopsy — can confirm or rule out a cancer diagnosis.
Does TruCheck replace NHS cancer screening?
No. TruCheck is designed to sit alongside NHS breast, cervical and bowel cancer screening, not to replace it. If you are invited to NHS screening you should continue to attend, regardless of whether you also choose a private multi-cancer test.
What happens if TruCheck detects CTCs?
A positive TruCheck result is not a cancer diagnosis. It indicates that further clinical investigation is recommended. The Swift Blood Tests team helps you take your written report to your GP or a specialist so that appropriate follow-up — such as imaging or a biopsy — can be arranged. The tissue-of-origin indication on the report is designed to help make those onward investigations more targeted.
What does the TruCheck service include?
The £1,200 service includes the blood sample collection (clinic, Essex home visit or home kit), temperature-controlled sample transport to the Datar Cancer Genetics laboratory, the TruCheck Intelli laboratory analysis, tissue-of-origin identification where CTCs are detected, a full written report within 12 to 15 working days, and team support before and after the test. See the TruCheck service page for the current price and full service details.
Where can I book a TruCheck test in the UK?
TruCheck Intelli is available through a small number of private providers in the UK, including Swift Blood Tests, which offers the test as a clinic visit, an Essex home visit, or a home kit via post. You can view options and book directly from the TruCheck Multi Cancer Screening service page.
Now see exactly what the TruCheck service includes.
Current price, all three booking options and the full service details on the Swift Blood Tests service page.
Explore TruCheck Multi Cancer Screening