Professional Expert Questionnaire - https://forms.office.com/e/ZqjDWMP7ST
Barrett’s oesophagus develops when stomach acid damages the delicate lining of the oesophagus (the food pipe) and some cells change to become like the cells lining the stomach and bowel. These cells may grow abnormally, and this is called dysplasia. Occasionally these cells become cancerous. A capsule sponge test is an oesophageal cell collection device used with a biomarker test to check for abnormal cells in people with Barrett's oesophagus. It is a small capsule-shaped device which is swallowed under clinical supervision, but without the need for sedation. The capsule is dissolvable and when swallowed, it expands into a small, rough-textured sponge in the person's stomach. The device is then extracted via a string attached to the sponge. After it is taken out, the cells collected from the oesophagus are tested by an antibody test for Trefoil Factor 3, which is only found in precancerous cells. Currently, NICE’s guideline on Barrett's oesophagus and stage 1 oesophageal adenocarcinoma recommends surveillance of Barretts oesophagus by endoscopy, which is invasive and requires sedation. A capsule sponge test could be used as a less invasive alternative to endoscopy to help rule out abnormal cell growth in Barrett's oesophagus and determine who needs further investigation. It could reduce the number of endoscopies done, which may help reduce endoscopy service waiting lists and aid early cancer detection by prioritising people that need further tests and treatment. NICE’s HealthTech programme will assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of capsule sponge tests to make recommendations on their use in the NHS.
- Status:
- In progress
- Technology type:
- Device
- Decision:
- Selected
- Reason for decision:
- Anticipate the topic will be of importance to patients, carers, professionals, commissioners and the health of the public to ensure clinical benefit is realised, inequalities in use addressed, and help them make the best use of NHS resources
- ID number:
- 10070
Provisional Schedule
- Scoping workshop:
- 23 September 2025
- Final scope:
- 06 October 2025
Project Team
- Project lead
- [email protected]
Email enquiries
If you have any queries please email [email protected]
- External Assessment Group:
- School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield
Timeline
Key events during the development of the guidance:
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| 25 July 2025 | In progress. Scoping phase has begun |
For further information on our processes and methods, please see our HealthTech programme manual.