OVA1^® is a simple blood test that has been cleared by the FDA to help physicians assess the likelihood that an ovarian mass is malignant prior to a planned surgery. It is not a screening test, yet OVA1 is to be used in along with a physician’s overall assessment to help guide surgical decision for the patient. 

OVA1 measures the levels of five proteins found in the blood and then uses a proprietary software called OvaCalc^® to calculate a single score.  A woman’s risk of cancer is measured by using a 0-10 scale and predetermined cut-off points.  Women who are pre-menopausal have a cut off of 5.0 whereas women who are postmenopausal have a 4.4 cutoff.  A high OVA1 score is not a diagnosis of cancer, rather it indicates an increased risk. 

An elevated OVA1 test score may help the physician determine if the woman should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist.  A gynecologic oncologist is gynecologist who has undergone extensive training and specializes in gynecological cancers.  Studies have shown that women with ovarian malignancies can experience better outcomes when they are operated on by a gynecologic oncologist.

Understanding How OVA1 Works