Breath test to detect liver cirrhosis early

The DELIVER study investigated whether a breath test could help doctors detect liver cirrhosis at an earlier, more treatable stage. Researchers studied a special oral probe called EVOC that the body processes differently depending on whether someone has cirrhosis—similar to how different bodies digest foods differently. By analyzing chemicals exhaled in breath after taking the probe, the trial aimed to develop a simple, non-invasive way to identify cirrhosis before serious complications occur.

Currently, most patients don't learn they have cirrhosis until their liver is severely damaged and they arrive at an emergency room with life-threatening complications. Existing tests for cirrhosis are either invasive, uncomfortable, or not very accurate, so doctors need an easy, reliable tool that can catch the disease earlier—when treatments are still effective at preserving liver function and improving survival.