Foundation Medicine Heme

Specimen Required

Blood/ Blocks

Fasting Required

Purpose of the Test

The Foundation Medicine Heme test is used to help diagnose and guide treatment decisions for patients with hematologic malignancies, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. The test can identify genetic alterations in the cancer cells that may be used to select targeted therapies, immunotherapies, or clinical trial options.

When this test is required

The test may be requested by a healthcare provider when a patient is suspected of having a hematologic malignancy or when a diagnosis has already been made and further testing is needed to determine the best treatment options.

What the Test Detects

The test examines the patient’s DNA for genetic alterations associated with hematologic malignancies, including single nucleotide variants, small insertions or deletions, copy number alterations, and fusions/rearrangements in over 400 genes.

Preparation for the Test

There is no specific test preparation needed for the Foundation Medicine Heme test.

Sample Requirements

The test requires a tissue or blood sample from the patient.

Additional Notes

It is important to note that the Foundation Medicine Heme test is just one tool that healthcare providers use to diagnose and guide treatment decisions for hematologic malignancies. Healthcare providers will typically use a combination of diagnostic tests and clinical evaluation to make a diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment plan. Additionally, genetic testing can have limitations, and not all patients will have a genetic alteration that is targetable with currently available therapies.

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