Abbott validated a tampon-based endometrial cancer test developed with Mayo Clinic collaboration, aiming to provide an easier alternative to traditional in-office sampling. The PCR-based assay detects DNA methylation markers from vaginal fluid collected using a self-administered tampon or a physician-collected swab. Abbott said the test was validated in a poster at ASCO and supported by a paper in Gynecologic Oncology. The company positioned it for very early-stage disease, where current clinical pathways can underperform and where transvaginal ultrasound can be less informative in patients with fibroids. The work drew on roughly a decade of development, including building a biomarker panel from methylation markers identified using tissue from hysterectomy patients, with an emphasis on improving performance across diverse populations.