Breath test to detect liver cirrhosis early

The DELIVER study is testing a new breath test that may help detect liver cirrhosis at an earlier stage when treatment is still effective. Researchers believe that when people with cirrhosis ingest a special oral probe, their bodies process it differently than healthy people do, creating unique chemical signatures in their breath. By analyzing these breath samples, doctors may be able to identify cirrhosis before serious complications develop.

Currently, most people don't get diagnosed with cirrhosis until their liver is already failing and they need emergency care — at which point treatment options are limited. This study exists because there is a real need for a simple, non-invasive test that can catch cirrhosis earlier, when doctors can still do more to preserve liver function and improve outcomes.