At its intraday high, the BCAL share price was up 162.5%.

The ASX healthcare share has since retreated to 14.5 cents, up 81%.

Let's take a look at the details of BCAL's announcement.

ASX healthcare share shoots the lights out

BCAL Diagnostics has developed a blood test to detect breast cancer, which it is now testing for efficacy.

The company said today it has now taken a major step toward commercialisation of its breast cancer diagnostic test.

In a statement, BCAL said it has received "breakthrough results" from a clinical study co-sponsored with United States company Precion Inc.

The analysis undertaken achieved sensitivity (ability to detect true positive samples) of 90% and a specificity (ability to detect true negative samples) of 85.5%.

The results replicated earlier studies conducted in Australia using a different mass spectrometry platform.

Commercial sales by second half of 2024

BCAL says the results enhance its confidence that the blood test will be ready for commercial sales in the second half of calendar 2024.

The test would be used in conjunction with mammograms.

The company said the results mean commercial labs around the world should be able to use blood samples from the BCAL test to detect cancer.

Bcal said this will expedite its access and penetration into existing and new global markets.

Executive Chair of BCAL Jayne Shaw said:

These results are a major step towards making our test broadly available to patients and clinicians.

We will continue to work closely with leading scientists and doctors as our science team further optimises the test to make it more cost-effective when it is launched as a patient friendly blood test for detecting breast cancer

BCAL is a relatively new ASX healthcare share, listed in 2021.

The company has a market capitalisation of $16.91 million.

BCAL will be hosting an investor webinar on 8 August to further update shareholders.

How are ASX healthcare shares faring in 2023?

ASX healthcare shares are considered defensive stocks in a volatile economy.

Defensive shares represent companies that can produce stable earnings in any economic conditions.

However, ASX 200 healthcare shares are underperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in 2023.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) is down 0.073% while the broader ASX 200 is up 6.6%.

The post 'Breakthrough results': Why this ASX healthcare share just exploded 160% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Even with the gain, three ASX health care shares stood out today, with each posting returns that outpaced the market.

Here is the rundown on what happened with each today.

Trajan Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: TRJ)

Shares in global analytical science and device company Trajan Group jumped over 8% today and finished near an all-time high.

Investors bought into the company's shares after it announced it had completed the acquisition of German company Axel Semrau overnight.

The company completed the deal on a consideration of 17 million euros. This gives the company further exposure to the European markets.

The Axel Semrau company manufactures laboratory automation and chromatography software and detection systems. The company reported FY21 (year ended Sept 2021) revenues of 14.9 million euros and EBITDA of 1.46 million euros.

Trajan shares traded as high as 8% late in the session today, after climbing gradually from the open.

Early investors have been rewarded with their holdings in Trajan Group. Its share price has gained over 105% since listing in early July.

SDI Limited (ASX: SDI)

Shares in supplier of dental restoration materials SDI traded as much as 7% higher before dumping just before the closing bell today.

At market close, SDI's shares are fetching $1.07 apiece and are up only 1.90%. They were on the move as Investors responded positively to the company's AGM release today.

In its address, the company's chairman Jeffery Cheetham gave an overview of the company's operations for the year. He also addressed how the firm has created value for its shareholders in that time.

For instance, SDI declared a final dividend of 1.65 cents per share on top of its interim dividend of 1.5 cents per share. Combined, this signified a 70.3% growth in the dividend payout ratio from the previous year.

SDI also launched several new products in its whitening and glass ionomer range and continues to invest in research development, as per its report.

The SDI share price has gained over 31% in the past 12 months after rallying another 36% this year to date.

Bcal Diagnostics Ltd (ASX: BDX)

Shares in Bcal Diagnostics hit an intraday high of 15.2 cents in early trade today and held course until the finish.

The gains are a welcomed turn for Bcal shareholders, who have lost 39% in the past few months since the company listed.

There wasn't any price-sensitive news out of Bcal's camp today, however, its share price has been on the downward slope for the last few weeks.

But, the company did release trial results for its BCAL test early in the month. That data readout supported and reinforced previous studies conducted by the company.

Bcal advised its BCAL test showed positive results in samples obtained from a recent Cohort 4 test. The company is now seeking to further refine its BCAL algorithm and biomarker development.

Investors have bought in at the lows today and volume is about 50% of the company's 4-week average volume for number of shares traded.

ASX health care shares have done well across the board today as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) finished up around 1%, after gaining more than 6% in the past month, indicating strengths across the broad sector.

The post 3 ASX health care shares that outpaced the market on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.