For Precise MRD baseline testing, which material in addition to blood is required?

For Precise MRD baseline testing, which material in addition to blood is required?

• A. Tumor tissue
• B. Saliva
• C. Urine
• D. Stool sample

Answer: (A)

Precise MRD baseline testing relies on identifying the tumor’s unique genetic alterations to track residual disease in the blood. A biopsy or surgical specimen from the tumor provides the exact mutations or rearrangements that define that patient’s cancer. Once those tumor-specific targets are known, a highly sensitive assay can monitor the same alterations in circulating tumor DNA in blood, enabling precise detection of very low levels of residual disease. Other samples like saliva, urine, or stool don’t reliably provide validated, tumor-specific targets for establishing the baseline, so they aren’t used for this purpose.

Precise MRD baseline testing relies on identifying the tumor’s unique genetic alterations to track residual disease in the blood. A biopsy or surgical specimen from the tumor provides the exact mutations or rearrangements that define that patient’s cancer. Once those tumor-specific targets are known, a highly sensitive assay can monitor the same alterations in circulating tumor DNA in blood, enabling precise detection of very low levels of residual disease. Other samples like saliva, urine, or stool don’t reliably provide validated, tumor-specific targets for establishing the baseline, so they aren’t used for this purpose.