Cancer: Screening

(asked on 26th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost is of a single whole genome sequencing test for (a) blood cancers and (b) other cancer types.


Answered by
Caroline Dinenage Portrait
Caroline Dinenage
This question was answered on 5th July 2019

The National Genomic Test Directory outlines which genomic tests are commissioned by the National Health Service in England, the technology by which they are available, and the patients who will be eligible to access to a test. The Directory will be updated on an annual basis and NHS England will implement a clear and transparent process, supported by a Clinical and Scientific Expert Panel, to determine which tests are available within the NHS. This will include reviewing any tests that may be retired or replaced by more modern technology, such as whole genome sequencing. As the price of whole genome sequencing falls and the clinical evidence improves, we envisage that it will be extended to more conditions and therefore more patients. More information on the Directory is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/

There is considerable variation in the reported costs of genomic analysis. For Genomics England, during the 100,000 Genomes project, these were in order of £2,500 per cancer patient. This included sequencing both the patient’s normal genome and their tumour, as well as the running costs of undertaking both the sequencing and bioinformatics for analysis and interpretation.

Health Education England established the Genomics Education Programme to support NHS staff to build the knowledge, skills and experience to deliver a whole genome sequencing service. This programme is being embedded into organisations to enable long-term sustainability of the multi-disciplinary clinical workforce.

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