Medical Laboratory and Biomedical Science: The costs and benefits of genetic testing

Sunday, September 8, 2013

The costs and benefits of genetic testing

Hospital laboratories that are considering an investment should know that while genetic testing comes with a high financial cost, the potential gains from investing in the research could put a hospital on the cutting edge of treatment and patient care, especially in companion diagnostics. This form of testing is unique in that it can predict if a particular patient will respond to a particular drug, thereby providing medically and cost-effective treatments.

It can also help to alleviate potential adverse side effects. Companion diagnostics is a very specific test developed to ensure the safe and effective use of the corresponding drugs. "All of this came to light from cancer therapies in some of the newer biologic drugs were developed for cancer," said Montagna. "A cancer patient deals with medications that cost tens of thousands per treatment regimen, and there's a chance that the drugs he or she is taking are not helping him or her get better. In some cases, the medication might be making him or her even worse."