Liquid Biopsy 5 Things You Should Know

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Making a cancer diagnosis is not as simple as anyone thinks. Doctors use various methods to see if patients like you are troubled with a tumour that requires removal through surgical removal, transplants, medication, therapy, or radiation exposure. If they suspect you have cancer, your specialist will ask you to undergo a physical exam, imaging or lab test, and tissue or liquid biopsy to see if your cells have been growing uncontrollably.

Liquid biopsy procedures work by drawing the patient’s blood and having it undergo a comprehensive genomic profiling process. This step allows lab experts and doctors to see if your blood shows any signs of cancer. Scroll through to learn five more facts about this test to prepare you for its process:

1. Liquid Biopsy Is FDA-Approved

Liquid biopsies come in different types—four of them received the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA. The Guardant 360 test is one of these expert-recommended liquid biopsy types, which certifies its safety and accuracy.

2. Liquid Biopsy Is Less Invasive

Liquid biopsy is comparable to getting a flu shot or having your blood drawn for a lab test. It is not as invasive as a tissue biopsy that will require you to receive anaesthesia, so you will not feel your doctor cut a small piece of your concerned body part.

3. Liquid Biopsy Has A Quick Turnaround Time

Unlike other tests for cancer diagnosis, the FDA approved liquid biopsy can allow you and your doctor to see the exam results within a week or less. This fast turnaround time will let your healthcare provider give you the necessary treatment as soon as possible, helping you dodge complications.

4. Liquid Biopsy Is Not As Complex As You Think

A doctor, nurse, or lab technician will draw blood from your body using a syringe during a liquid biopsy. They will place this sample on a machine that separates your blood’s components, allowing an expert to see if you are troubled with cancer.

5. Liquid Biopsy Has A Few Limitations

Not every doctor may recommend liquid biopsy for cancer diagnosis since it still needs more clinical trials to confirm its accuracy. Moreover, experts still encounter cancer detection issues with liquid biopsies, making it a complimentary exam at best.

If your doctor asks you to undergo a liquid biopsy, you may ask Guardant Health AMEA for a testing kit that their experts can deliver to your home. Check out their website to learn more about their liquid biopsy technology.