The onset of hereditary breast cancer is usually at a much earlier age than other cases and the most frequent cause is a gene mutation which can be passed from one generation to the next.

The new breast cancer test has already been successfully used in gene testing work carried out for the Northern Genetics Service??? an NHS clinical genetics service serving patients in England. As a result, the availability of the new test to European healthcare providers will mean the earlier identification of family members at risk of developing breast cancer.

Dr. Michael Wright, Assistant Medical Director of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a Director of NewGene said: "This test opens the way for healthcare organisations to significantly improve the speed and quality of the service that they provide to patients and their families whilst halving the cost per test at the same time.

"Our close partnership with NHS organisations means we have access to clinical patient samples which have enabled us to validate our testing and ensure identification of all mutations."

Source: NewGene