Hawkeye Bio and HealthQuest launch LEAP blood test for lung cancer screening support

Hawkeye Bio and HealthQuest Esoterics said Oct. 26 that LEAP, a prescription blood test designed to support early lung cancer detection, is now commercially available through HealthQuest. The test is meant to complement low-dose CT screening and is being offered as a self-pay laboratory-developed test with results available within seven days of sample receipt.

Why it matters: - Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and the companies say millions of eligible adults are still not up to date on screening. - LEAP is intended to add early biological information before a physician review, which could help close screening gaps and support earlier treatment decisions. - HealthQuest says the validated test is now practical to order and deliver through its clinical operations and specimen network.

What happened: - Hawkeye Bio and HealthQuest Esoterics announced the commercial availability of LEAP through HealthQuest on Oct. 26, 2026. - LEAP is a prescription blood test designed to support early lung cancer detection and complement low-dose CT screening. - The test uses Hawkeye’s proprietary graphene biosensor technology to measure patterns of protease enzyme activity associated with lung cancer. - Testing is performed at HealthQuest’s CLIA-certified laboratory in Irvine, California. - Results are available within seven days of sample receipt.

The details: - Hawkeye Bio contributes biosensor research and assay-development capabilities. - HealthQuest provides laboratory validation expertise, physician relationships, specimen-collection infrastructure and clinical testing operations. - HealthQuest independently validated LEAP clinical performance during the formal analytic validation of the commercial test. - The validation study showed 95% sensitivity across all lung cancer stages and subtypes. - LEAP has a projected negative predictive value of 99.9% in the intended-use population. - A negative LEAP result does not rule out lung cancer. - An abnormal result calls for further clinical evaluation. - LEAP is available as a self-pay laboratory-developed test. - LEAP is not currently covered by insurance. - LEAP has not been cleared or approved by the FDA. - Healthcare providers can request ordering instructions, specimen requirements, current self-pay pricing and clinical information by contacting info@hawkeyebio.com or info@hqesoterics.com. - Hawkeye Bio’s website is the company’s site. - HealthQuest’s website is the laboratory’s site.

Between the lines: - The partnership gives Hawkeye Bio a route from research to clinical use, while HealthQuest gains a new test built around proprietary biosensor science. - Hawkeye Bio and HealthQuest frame the collaboration as a platform for additional diagnostic applications as they are developed and validated. - Hawkeye Bio says LEAP measures protease activity, which provides a different view of disease biology than tests that measure biomarker quantity alone. - The company says protease enzymes are involved in how cancer interacts with surrounding tissue and the immune system. - For the high-risk population studied, the company says it is prioritizing sensitivity and stage-specific performance.

What’s next: - HealthQuest and Hawkeye Bio plan to use the collaboration as a foundation for bringing more diagnostic applications into clinical use. - Physicians can now begin requesting ordering details and pricing for LEAP. - The test’s broader market adoption will likely depend on physician uptake, patient willingness to self-pay and future coverage decisions.

The bottom line: - LEAP enters the market as a non-FDA-cleared, self-pay blood test aimed at improving early lung cancer detection alongside standard CT screening.