Table 1. Tests now and in the future... | American Society of Hematology

Table 1.

Tests now and in the future

Purpose	Test now	Test soon	Faster?	Cheaper?	Better?
Detection of Ph	Cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization	In situ BCR-ABL1 protein assay	Yes	No	Quantitation of protein targets could be clinically useful
BCR-ABL1 mRNA detection	qRT-PCR	Digital PCR	Yes	No	Potentially more accurate, sensitive, and robust
BCR-ABL1 DNA detection	Multiplex PCR and sequencing	NGS sequencing or real-time sequencing	Yes	No	Could simplify BCR-ABL1 DNA testing
ABL TKD mutation testing	Sanger or NGS	Ultrasensitive NGS	No	No	Great sensitivity, but unclear which clinical settings will benefit
Diagnosis and monitoring in low-income areas	Some local, but more outsourced testing	Dried blood spots or point-of-care devices	Yes	Yes	Potentially gets the test to more patients. Lack of sensitivity compared with standard PCR

Purpose	Test now	Test soon	Faster?	Cheaper?	Better?
Detection of Ph	Cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization	In situ BCR-ABL1 protein assay	Yes	No	Quantitation of protein targets could be clinically useful
BCR-ABL1 mRNA detection	qRT-PCR	Digital PCR	Yes	No	Potentially more accurate, sensitive, and robust
BCR-ABL1 DNA detection	Multiplex PCR and sequencing	NGS sequencing or real-time sequencing	Yes	No	Could simplify BCR-ABL1 DNA testing
ABL TKD mutation testing	Sanger or NGS	Ultrasensitive NGS	No	No	Great sensitivity, but unclear which clinical settings will benefit
Diagnosis and monitoring in low-income areas	Some local, but more outsourced testing	Dried blood spots or point-of-care devices	Yes	Yes	Potentially gets the test to more patients. Lack of sensitivity compared with standard PCR

Each future test is assayed against the faster/cheaper/better criteria.