More than half of the cancers detected were in the early stages, which significantly increases the chance of successful treatment.
The test works by detecting fragments of tumor DNA in the blood, and in 9 out of 10 cases it was also able to correctly indicate where in the body the cancer was located.
It is notable that three quarters of the cancers detected have no existing screening program, such as liver, ovarian, stomach, bladder and pancreatic cancer.
When the test was combined with classic screening methods such as breast, bowel and cervical examination, the number of cancers detected increased sevenfold.
Blood test results for cancer detection are promising
Although the results are encouraging, independent scientists emphasize that there is no evidence yet that the test actually reduces cancer mortality.
Naked mole rat DNA may hold the key to a long and healthy life for humans
The full data will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin, but have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
A three-year study involving 140,000 NHS patients is currently underway in the UK, with results expected next year. If they are positive, the NHS wants to expand the test to a million people.