For providers
Interpreting results

How to read your patient’s test results

The Oncodetect™ Molecular Residual Disease (MRD) test report is simple and straightforward, showing whether circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was detected in your patient’s blood, as well as a chart of their ctDNA levels over time.
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Explore the report

The Oncodetect MRD report provides a simple view of a patient’s MRD status and allows for the tracking of ctDNA levels over time. Knowing a patient’s MRD status can help you to guide adjuvant therapy, detect recurrence or progression earlier than the current standard of care,1 and assess their response to treatment.
A plus sign from the Oncodetect MRD test report, depicting a positive (or ctDNA detected) result.

Positive or negative

The report begins with a positive or negative result (detected or not detected), indicating the presence or absence of ctDNA associated with your patient’s tumor. A positive result indicates a higher risk of cancer recurrence or progression. A negative result correlates with a better prognosis for the patient.2
An example image from the Oncodetect MRD test report depicting a ctDNA level of 5.20 mean tumor molecules per millileter of plasma.

Amount detected

If ctDNA is detected,* the amount of ctDNA in your patient’s bloodstream will be stated as mean tumor molecules per milliliter of plasma (MTM/mL).
An example image from the Oncodetect MRD test report depicting a patient’s ctDNA level going up over time.

Longitudinal monitoring

Track your patient’s ctDNA levels over time — pre-surgery, post-surgery, during and after adjuvant therapy, during patient surveillance, and, as needed, upon recurrence. This lets you monitor tumor burden, detect recurrence, and assess response to therapy.

Breaking down the results

Each Oncodetect MRD report will show the amount of tumor-specific ctDNA in your patient’s bloodstream. If you are monitoring MRD over time, you’ll get a historical view of your patient’s levels, showing quantifiable evidence of cancer recurrence, progression, or regression.

Negative

A “ctDNA not detected” result indicates there is no identifiable evidence of MRD, and could signify a lower risk of recurrence or progression.2†
An example image from the Oncodetect MRD test report depicting a patient’s ctDNA level staying undetected over time.

Positive

A “ctDNA detected” result indicates a higher risk of recurrence or progression. Knowledge of a positive result and the trajectory of ctDNA levels over time can help inform the best treatment plan for a patient.
An example image from the Oncodetect MRD test report depicting a patient’s ctDNA level going down and up over time.

View your patient’s Oncodetect MRD test results on the Exact Sciences Provider Hub.

We’re here to support you. If you need any help interpreting results, contact our medical team.
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Ordering a test for your patients is fast and easy 

Order tests, access results, and receive updates through our Provider Hub.

Have questions?

Call us at +1 866-662-6897.

References and footnotes

  1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Coverage Database. LCD—MolDX: Minimal Residual Disease Testing for Cancer. Accessed January 21, 2025. https://www.cms.gov/
  2. Diergaarde B, Young G, Hall DW, Mazloom A, Costa G, Subramaniam S, Palomares M, Garces J, Baehner FL, Schoen RE; and other members of the Exact Sciences MRD Group. Circulating tumor DNA as a marker of recurrence risk in Stage III colorectal cancer: The α‐CORRECT study. Journal of Surgical Oncology.
  3. Quantitative results are only reported if above lower limit threshold for quantitation.
  4. A negative result does not definitively rule out the presence of MRD.


    This test was developed, and its performance characteristics determined by Genomic Health, Inc. The Oncodetect test was clinically validated in colorectal cancer patients with stage II-IV disease. Performance characteristics may not apply in tumor types not included in this test’s clinical validation. The test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The test has been validated as a Laboratory Developed Test per institutional and applicable CLIA regulation (CLIA# 03D2048606) and College of American Pathology (CAP# 8869063) as qualified to perform high complexity clinical laboratory testing.