Detecting diseases such as cancer could one day be done with a urine test, if a new technique demonstrated in two new studies proves to be safe and effective in people.

The new method works by using genetically engineered bacteria to detect markers of disease in the body, researchers described in two new studies.

With current methods, diagnosing certain diseases can be time-consuming and difficult. For example, some cancers can only be confirmed with invasive biopsies, and CT scans can only see tumors once they've grown relatively large, on the order of a half-inch. Other disorders can be hard to pin down because the markers they leave in the blood or urine are at such low concentrations that they are hard to detect.

Now, using engineered bacteria similar to the type in yogurt, researchers say they have found ways to see cancers sooner and seek specific chemicals in bodily fluids, making testing easier on patients as well as providing more accurate tests.