How should a Cancer Signal Detected result be interpreted?
A Cancer Signal Detected result indicates that cancer-associated genomic alterations were detected in the sample. This significantly increases the likelihood that cancer is present but does not confirm the presence of cancer. This result should NOT be used as the sole basis for making important decisions such as treatment or euthanasia. A full clinical evaluation must be performed to establish a definitive diagnosis.
When discussing a
Cancer Signal Detected result with an owner, the unique clinical context of the patient needs to be considered. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the test is a measure of the likelihood that an individual with a positive test result is in fact affected with the condition. See our
test interpretation guide for a more detailed explanation of PPV. If the patient was tested due to existing clinical signs and a suspicion of cancer, the PPV is likely to be much higher than if the test were ordered as a screening test with a much lower pre-existing chance of cancer. In any case, a
Cancer Signal Detected result significantly increases the likelihood that cancer is present, and additional clinical evaluation is indicated.