Cancer test trials begin in Sydney

Trials of a new genetic test with the potential to raise the survival rate for children diagnosed with leukaemia are beginning in Sydney.

The world-first clinical trial, developed by the Children's Cancer Institute Australia, aims to identify young leukaemia patients most likely to suffer a relapse.

The test can identify one cancer cell lurking among one million healthy cells.

Seventy children have so far been enrolled in the five-year clinical trial.