Do you need a referral for genomic tumour profiling?

The exact route depends on the laboratory and healthcare facility. Contact the clinic before booking to check whether it accepts direct requests or requires an order from an oncologist or another treating specialist.

Genomic tumour profiling examines changes in cancer cells that may help the care team classify the tumour or consider suitable treatment options. It is different from inherited genetic testing: tumour profiling focuses mainly on the cancer sample, although some findings may raise a separate question about an inherited change.

A pathology team first checks whether stored tissue is available and suitable. If the sample is too small or no longer usable, the clinical team can explain whether another sample or a different test would be appropriate. A detected change does not automatically mean that a matching medicine is suitable or available.

Start with the clinician managing your cancer care. Bring your pathology report, treatment summary, current medicines and details of where any biopsy or surgery was performed. The clinic can identify the tissue location, choose a relevant test and coordinate transfer of the sample to the laboratory.

Before proceeding, ask what question the test is intended to answer, whether a new biopsy could be needed, how results will be explained and who will receive the report. Also ask what happens if the result is unclear or does not identify a treatment option.

Referral arrangements are not an emergency, but new or rapidly worsening symptoms should not wait for profiling results. Seek urgent medical assessment for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, sudden confusion, uncontrolled bleeding or a severe reaction after a procedure.

Contact your cancer team promptly if pain, vomiting, weakness, fever or another treatment-related symptom is getting worse. The team can assess the symptom separately while the laboratory work continues.

Useful questions include: Is my existing tumour sample suitable? Could the findings change my current plan? Will normal blood or saliva be needed for comparison? Who will interpret the report? Should any result lead to a discussion with a genetics professional?