Identification of early HCC and improve survival is the rationale behind screening for HCC. An effective screening program, however, requires certain criteria an identifiable target group, acceptable tests with high sensitivity and specificity, and available treatment.

Surveillance intervals forHCCare based on a balance between the tumor doubling time and the cost of the screening tests. Doubling time of HCC ranges from 1 to 19 months with a median of 4–6 months. Most study protocols conduct screening every 6 months. The overall cost of surveillance for HCC varies according to region, population incidence, and the screening tools used. The cost of finding each tumor in high-risk individuals ranges from $ 11,000 to $25,000.

Therefore, there is a huge market for novel diagnostic kits and devices.