Capsule Sponge Test Offered in Pharmacies as Part of Oesophageal Cancer Pilot

The capsule sponge test, that helps detect oesophageal cancer at an early stage, will soon be available in high street pharmacies as part of a major NHS pilot programme.

Launching early next year, the pilot will see 1,500 patients in London and the East Midlands offered a free ‘heartburn health check’ at their selected Boots and independent pharmacies. The capsule sponge test can help spot if heartburn is a sign of a more serious problem called Barrett’s oesophagus, a precursor to oesophageal cancer. The initiative aims to identify people at risk of oesophageal cancer who may not have sought help from their GP, despite frequently using over-the-counter medication for persistent heartburn or acid reflux.

Pharmacists will identify customers who may be at risk and invite them to take part in the screening. Eligible patients will then be offered the capsule sponge test (the EndoSign® test developed by Cyted Health) which often referred to as the “sponge-on-a-string.”

This innovative and quick procedure involves swallowing a small capsule attached to a thin thread. Inside the capsule is a sponge that, once dissolved in the stomach, expands to about the size of a 1p coin. It is then gently retrieved through the mouth, collecting cells from the lining of the oesophagus. These cells are then analysed for signs of Barrett’s oesophagus, a condition that can lead to oesophageal cancer.

Taking just ten minutes, the test will help spot oesophageal cancer in its early stages, when treatment is most effective and outcomes are significantly improved. While the capsule sponge test has been offered in hospitals and other clinical settings for years, this is the first time it will be available in a high-street setting.

The pilot will run for two years and the outcomes of an independent evaluation will inform decisions about any future roll-out. The NHS says that if the two-year pilot is successful, the initiative could be rolled out more widely across the country, potentially offering earlier diagnosis to thousands of people who might otherwise go undetected.

Almost 10,000 patients are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK each year, with four in five diagnosed at a later, harder to treat, stage. The cancer kills almost 8,000 Britons each year, the vast majority with just 12 months of diagnosis.

Heartburn Cancer UK are working closely with the project team to support this initiative.

Mimi McCord, founder of Heartburn Cancer UK, whose husband died from oesophageal cancer, welcomed the news – “Oesophageal cancer can be a brutal disease. It hides in plain sight and when it takes hold, it doesn’t hang around before it kills. Catching it early – or when it’s a pre-cancerous condition – is the best chance people have of survival. People who regularly self-medicate often fall below the radar of the GP system. Lives will be saved by more people being made aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for and having quick, simple and easily accessible tests in pharmacies.”

For more information about the Capsule Sponge Test pilot programme please take a look at the NHS news release.

Heartburn Cancer UK continues to raise awareness of the dangers of persistent heartburn and campaign for better access to early diagnostic tools. If you’ve been experiencing symptoms for more than three weeks, don’t ignore them – speak to your pharmacist or GP. Early detection could save your life.

UPDATED MARCH 2026

Testing locations have now been confirmed and are detailed below.

If you live in the East Midlands or North Central London then please go and visit a participating pharmacy to find out if the test is right for you.

Testing in East Midlands is taking place in the following pharmacies, just ask for a Heartburn Health Check:

Boots Nottingham Victoria Centre, Victoria Centre, 239 Upper Mall, Nottingham, NG1 3QP
Peak Pharmacy, 40 Rosemary Street, Mansfield, NG18 1QL
Well Pharmacy, Crown Medical Centre, Crown Farm Way, Forest Town, Mansfield, NG190FW
Oakwood Pharmacy, 14 Church St, Mansfield Woodhouse, Mansfield, NG19 8AH

Testing in North Central London will take place in the Finchley Memorial Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre, after a pharmacy referral from one of the programme partners below, ask the pharmacy to refer you for a Heartburn Health Check: