The Galleri® test is a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood test developed by GRAIL. From a single blood draw it screens for a shared cancer signal across more than 50 cancer types and, if a signal is found, predicts where in the body it came from. Goodbody now offers it in clinic for £1,299, or £1,329 with a nurse visit at home. It is designed for adults aged 50 or over, or at elevated risk of cancer, who have no symptoms. It does not detect all cancers, and it is meant to be used in addition to, not instead of, the NHS screening you are offered.
In this article
- What is the Galleri test?
- How does a multi-cancer blood test work?
- What does the evidence show so far?
- Who is the Galleri test for?
- What do the results mean?
- What happens when you book?
- How does Galleri compare with TruCheck?
- FAQ
What is the Galleri test?
Galleri is a blood test that looks for a signal shared by more than 50 types of cancer. Many of those cancers have no routine screening in the UK: only four cancers currently have a recommended NHS screening programme, which are breast, cervical, bowel and lung. Galleri is not a replacement for those programmes. It is intended to sit alongside them for people who feel well.
The Galleri® test is offered by Goodbody in partnership with Preologi, who are the first provider in the UK to offer the Galleri® test. Every test is ordered, supervised and explained by a qualified clinician, and it is only offered to people evaluated by a healthcare professional.
How does a multi-cancer blood test work?
All cells, including cancer cells, shed fragments of DNA into the bloodstream. The Galleri test analyses this cell-free DNA for methylation patterns, which are chemical marks on the DNA that are unique to cancer. A machine-learning classifier reads those patterns to decide whether a cancer signal is present and, if so, which tissue it most likely came from. That prediction, called Cancer Signal Origin, helps guide follow-up tests. Samples are analysed at GRAIL's laboratory, which is CLIA-certified and accredited by the College of American Pathologists.
What does the evidence show so far?
Two large studies, both presented at ASCO 2026, underpin the test. They answer different questions, and neither shows yet that screening with an MCED test reduces deaths from cancer. That evidence is still being gathered in ongoing trials, including NHS-Galleri.
| Measure | PATHFINDER 2 (North America) | NHS-Galleri (England) |
|---|---|---|
| People studied | 35,878 adults aged 50 and over, 32 sites | More than 142,000 people aged 50 to 77, three annual blood samples |
| Specificity | 99.6% (fewer than 1 in 200 false positives) | 99.55% |
| Positive predictive value | 60.3% (about 6 in 10 signals were found to be cancer) | 52.0% across three rounds |
| Cancers detected | 39.3% of all cancers diagnosed within a year; 69.8% for the 12 cancers that cause two-thirds of cancer deaths | Fourfold increase in screen-detected cancers when added to standard screening |
| Stage | 53% of new cancers found were stage I or II; 70.9% were stage I to III | Stage IV diagnoses in the 12 prespecified cancers fell by 26% in the third round (14% overall) |
| Origin prediction | 91.3% accuracy; median 48 days to diagnostic resolution | 92.5% accuracy |
It is important to read the NHS-Galleri result in full. It is the first randomised controlled trial of an MCED test, but it did not meet its primary endpoint of reducing combined stage III and IV cancers. The stage IV reduction above is a pre-specified secondary finding. Taken together, these studies describe how the test performs. They do not prove that using it will change anyone's outcome, and nobody should expect that from a single result.
Screens for a shared cancer signal across 50+ cancer types. Clinician consultation, results review and after-care if a signal is detected are included.
£1,299 in clinic or £1,329 at home View the Galleri test →Who is the Galleri test for?
Galleri is recommended for adults with an elevated risk of cancer, such as those aged 50 or older. A Goodbody clinician reviews your medical history and confirms suitability before the test goes ahead.
| Galleri® may be suitable if | Not recommended if |
|---|---|
| You are aged 50 or over, or at elevated risk of cancer You have no current symptoms of cancer You want to add to, not replace, the NHS screening you are offered You are happy for a clinician to confirm suitability first |
You have symptoms that could be cancer: see your GP without delay You are under investigation for suspected cancer You are pregnant, aged 21 or younger, or in active cancer treatment |
What do the results mean?
No Cancer Signal Detected. The test did not find a cancer signal in your blood at the time of testing. This does not rule out cancer, because some cancers do not shed enough DNA to be detected. Keep attending the NHS screening you are invited to, and see your GP about any new symptoms.
Cancer Signal Detected. This is not a diagnosis. It means the test found a signal that needs confirmatory diagnostic evaluation, usually imaging and sometimes a biopsy, guided by the predicted origin. Your Goodbody clinician explains the result and follows up with you, supported by guidance from Preologi's clinical team, and recommends the further tests you need. If cancer is not confirmed, it may mean cancer is not present or that it could not be detected.
What happens when you book?
- Consultation and consent. A Goodbody clinician reviews your history, confirms the test is suitable and takes you through the GRAIL patient consent form.
- One blood draw. Two tubes are taken in one venous draw at one of our 250+ clinics or by a nurse at home, Monday to Thursday. No fasting or preparation is needed, and samples are posted the same day.
- Results explained. Preologi process the bloods and send them to GRAIL's laboratory, where analysis takes around ten working days. Results are typically available within about three weeks of your appointment, and a Goodbody clinician shares and explains them.
How does Galleri compare with TruCheck?
Goodbody also offers TruCheck, another multi-cancer screening blood test for people without symptoms. They work differently, and we make no claim that one is better than the other. Neither test detects every cancer.
| Galleri® | TruCheck™ | |
|---|---|---|
| What it analyses | Cell-free DNA methylation patterns | Circulating tumour cells |
| Cancers covered | Shared signal across 50+ cancer types, including blood cancers | 70+ solid-tumour types; does not cover blood cancers |
| Supporting studies | NHS-Galleri randomised trial and PATHFINDER 2 | See the TruCheck page |
| Price | £1,299 in clinic or £1,329 at home | From £1,199 |
If you are unsure which suits you, our clinicians are happy to talk it through on 01225 444 144. You can also see our full range of cancer screening blood tests. For background on the NHS programmes you may already be invited to, see NHS screening.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Galleri test replace NHS screening?
No. It should be used in addition to routine cancer screening recommended by a healthcare provider. Keep attending breast, cervical, bowel and lung screening when you are invited.
Can the Galleri test detect every cancer?
No. The test does not detect all cancers, and false positive and false negative results do occur.
How accurate is the Galleri test?
In PATHFINDER 2, specificity was 99.6% and 60.3% of signals were found to be cancer. In NHS-Galleri, specificity was 99.55% and positive predictive value 52.0%. No MCED test has yet published evidence that screening reduces mortality.
How long do Galleri results take?
Typically about three weeks from your appointment: around ten working days of analysis from the sample reaching GRAIL's laboratory, plus transit.
How much does the Galleri test cost?
£1,299 at a Goodbody clinic, or £1,329 with a nurse visit at home. Both include your clinician consultation, laboratory analysis, results review and after-care if a cancer signal is detected. Flexible payment options, including Clearpay and Splitit, are available at checkout.
Thinking about the Galleri® test?
A Goodbody clinician will confirm it is suitable for you before anything goes ahead.
Book my Galleri® test →Know more. Live better.
Important safety information: The Galleri test is recommended for use in adults with an elevated risk for cancer, such as those age 50 or older. The test does not detect all cancers and should be used in addition to routine cancer screening tests recommended by a healthcare provider. The Galleri test is intended to detect cancer signals and predict where in the body the cancer signal is located. Use of the test is not recommended in individuals who are pregnant, 21 years old or younger, or undergoing active cancer treatment. Results should be interpreted by a healthcare provider in the context of medical history, clinical signs, and symptoms. A test result of No Cancer Signal Detected does not rule out cancer. A test result of Cancer Signal Detected requires confirmatory diagnostic evaluation by medically established procedures (e.g., imaging) to confirm cancer. If cancer is not confirmed with further testing, it could mean that cancer is not present or testing was insufficient to detect cancer, including due to the cancer being located in a different part of the body. False positive (a cancer signal detected when cancer is not present) and false negative (a cancer signal not detected when cancer is present) test results do occur.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Figures are from GRAIL's PATHFINDER 2 and NHS-Galleri fact sheets presented at ASCO 2026. Galleri is a registered trademark of GRAIL, Inc. If you have symptoms or concerns about cancer, speak to your GP.