USA Health Launches In-House Molecular Cancer Tests For Precision Medicine

USA Health now offers two in-house molecular oncology tests—BRAF Gene Mutation Assay and Microsatellite Instability (MSI) Assay—for cancer patients. Onsite testing means patients receive results quicker and can start treatment sooner. The Molecular Pathology Laboratory at USA Health is the first precision oncology lab in the area. Previously, USA Health sent specimens to outside reference labs for BRAF mutation and MSI tests, with turnaround time of results to patients taking several weeks. The fully automated tests can detect mutations directly from tumor tissue and cytology specimens. Clinicians typically receive results within a few business days from the time a specimen is received in the molecular lab for testing. The lab is now working on expanding its test menu to include other key molecular biomarkers and bringing in next-generation sequencing-based assays to uncover key mutations for targeted therapy in common cancers.