Pharmacogenomic testing (PGx) provides clinically meaningful improvement in response and remission rates for difficult-to-treat depression patients over standard of care, according to a study … [Read more...]
EMERGING TESTS
Study Showing PGx Testing Improves Depression Outcomes, Key to Myriad’s Reimbursement Strategy
February 18, 2019
TESTING STRATEGY
PreOp Point-of-Care HbA1c Screening May Cut Complications
February 11, 2019
Point-of-care (POC) HbA1c measurements show a high level of agreement with central laboratory test in the outpatient setting, according to a small study published Jan. 18 in the Journal of Clinical … [Read more...]
INDUSTRY TRENDS
Point-of-Care PCR Tests Better Diagnosis, Rx for Kids’ Sore Throats
February 5, 2019
Given we are still in the midst of cold and flu season, a new study highlights the benefit of point-of-care (POC) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing among pediatric patients presenting to the … [Read more...]
PRECISION MEDICINE
Newborn Sequencing Delivers Some Unanticipated Findings
January 22, 2019
Newborn genomic sequencing (NGS) can identify risk for a wide range of disorders that otherwise may not be detected, even in seemingly healthy babies, according to a study published Jan. 3 in the … [Read more...]
THE BUSINESS OF TESTING
Payer Medical Policies Can Promote Effective Use of Comprehensive Sequencing In Community Oncology Setting
January 22, 2019
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) identifies clinically relevant genomic alterations that can be used to inform treatment decisions in community-based oncology practices that benefit both patients … [Read more...]
TESTING TRENDS
Zika Blood Screening Not Cost-Effective, Study Finds
January 22, 2019
Screening blood donors for Zika virus is not cost-effective in the United States or Puerto Rico, according to a study published Jan. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Despite U.S. Food and Drug … [Read more...]
TESTING TRENDS
Low-Value, Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring is Common
January 21, 2019
A substantial percentage of patients with type 2 diabetes may be inappropriately self-monitoring blood glucose, according to a research letter published Dec. 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Despite … [Read more...]
GUIDELINES
Pre-Op Urine Screening Not Necessary
December 31, 2018
Routine preoperative urine screening offers no clinical benefit, according to a large study published Dec. 12 in JAMA Surgery. Treating asymptomatic bacteriuria detected by screening does not cut the … [Read more...]
INFORMATICS
Big Data Can Reshape Lab Reference Values in the Era of Personalized Medicine
December 31, 2018
As might be expected, there are substantial differences in "normal" laboratory values determined by healthy outpatients and critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, even … [Read more...]
GENETIC TESTING
Sequencing-Based Panel May Improve Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules
December 10, 2018
A genetic test panel can help patients avoid unnecessary diagnostic thyroid surgeries, according to a study published Nov. 8 in JAMA Oncology. More than six in 10 of patients with thyroid nodules of … [Read more...]
