Oncology Test Integration with EMR to Simplify MRD Testing Workflows

For patients with blood cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma (MM), and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), it is important to monitor minimal residual disease (MRD), which refers to the remaining number of cancer cells that might remain in a patient’s body during and after treatment. These cancer cells often exist in such small numbers that traditional testing methods can fail to detect them, so routine MRD testing throughout a patient’s cancer journey can help oncologists assess prognosis, determine response to treatment, detect relapse, and inform care with more precision. Now, integration of the only FDA-cleared test that can monitor MRD in such patients with the most widely used comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) will streamline clinical decision-making for oncologists.

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (Seattle, WA, USA) has entered into a partnership with Epic (Verona, WI, USA) to integrate its clonoSEQ Assay into Epic’s comprehensive electronic medical record (EMR) system. Integrating clonoSEQ with Epic will streamline clinical decision-making for oncologists by providing easy access to clonoSEQ testing and weaving results seamlessly into patient records through the most widely used EMR system in the U.S.

Image: The partnership will increase access to minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring in blood cancers (Photo courtesy of Pexels)

Epic integration will enhance the clonoSEQ customer experience by allowing providers to order and review clonoSEQ results from Adaptive in the same way as they would any test performed directly at the site of care. Integration will simplify MRD testing workflows for cancer care providers who use Epic in institutions and practices across the U.S. Adaptive’s work with Epic will commence immediately, with clonoSEQ integration expected to go live in 2023.

“EMR integration is clearly the path forward to expanding access and increasing ease of use for advanced oncology tests like clonoSEQ,” said Nitin Sood, chief commercial officer, MRD, Adaptive Biotechnologies. “MRD is most powerful when monitored serially over time, and Epic integration will enable providers to efficiently leverage clonoSEQ MRD results at multiple points in the patient care continuum.”

“The use of tests that can guide the course of cancer treatment - and ultimately help save lives - shouldn’t be limited by the walls that separate oncologists from the nation’s leading diagnostic labs,” said Alan Hutchison, vice president at Epic. “Together, Adaptive and Epic can help oncologists understand their patients’ responses to treatment more precisely by spotting even a single cancer cell hiding among millions of healthy cells.”

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Adaptive Biotechnologies
Epic