A simple skin patch and COVID-like test could soon allow people to test for melanoma in the comfort of their home—helping catch the most dangerous type of skin cancer early without the need for a biopsy or blood draw.

With funding from the National Institutes of Health, researchers from the University of Michigan (U-M) developed a silicone patch with star-shaped microneedles called the 'ExoPatch'.

The patch was found to distinguish melanoma from healthy skin in mice. After being used on the skin, it then goes through a quick process before the test strip provides the result—two lines for signs of melanoma and one line for a negative result.

While the newly designed test is just a proof-of-concept at this stage, "the potential applications are huge," said study author and U-M chemical en

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