What is Afirma thyroid FNA Analysis?
What is Afirma thyroid FNA Analysis?
The Afirma Thyroid FNA Analysis test uses an algorithm to compare gene expression from mRNA in thyroid FNA samples against gene expression of a panel of 142 genes to classify cytologically indeterminate nodules as either benign or suspicious.
How do you prepare for a thyroid FNA?
There is very little you need to do to prepare for a thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy. Ask your healthcare provider whether you should stop taking any medicines before the procedure, like blood thinners. You should be able to eat and drink normally before the procedure.
What is Afirma thyroid test?
Afirma™ Gene Expression Classifier: a test for a group of molecular markers in thyroid biopsy specimens in order to determine the likelihood that a thyroid nodule is benign or cancerous. This test is performed by the company Veracyte Inc.
Does Medicare cover Afirma testing?
Afirma testing is recommended in leading practice guidelines and is covered by Medicare and all of the major commercial health plans in the United States. The Afirma XA provides physicians with genomic alteration information from the same FNA samples that are used in Afirma GSC testing.
How long does a fine needle biopsy of the thyroid take?
Facts you should know about a fine-needle aspiration biopsy fine needle aspiration biopsy is performed in a doctor’s office and takes about 20 minutes. Complications are rare, but include bleeding, bruising, and infection. Results help determine further management and treatment and are usually available within a week.
How is Afirma testing done?
Physicians Collect and Send Thyroid Nodule FNA Samples The samples are sent via overnight courier to the Veracyte laboratory. Once received, patient samples and corresponding Afirma Requisition Forms are reviewed for accuracy. Any issues that arise are handled by the Veracyte Client Services team.
How much does thyroid molecular testing cost?
The average costs per nodule evaluated were $14,641 using ThyroSeq® and $24,345 using diagnostic thyroidectomy. The cost per thyroid cancer case detected was $31,721 when using ThyroSeq® compared to $53,560 for diagnostic thyroidectomy.
How much does ThyroSeq cost?
The cost of Thyroseq® V2 is $3200 (29). Despite these high costs, insured patient costs are capped at $300 for either GEC or ThyroSeq® V2.
What is afirma test?
Afirma™ Gene Expression Classifier: a test for a group of molecular markers in thyroid biopsy specimens in order to determine the likelihood that a thyroid nodule is benign or cancerous. This test is performed by the company Veracyte Inc.
What is afirma testing?
The Afirma gene expression classifier (GEC) test uses thyroid cells obtained at the time of biopsy to screen for molecular markers (genes) that are associated with thyroid cancer. Its manufacturers claim that that the test can predict which of the indeterminate nodules are likely to be benign (with a 95 % certainty),…
Do benign thyroid nodules require long-term follow-up?
Long-term follow-up of benign thyroid nodules shows favorable prognosis. After 5 years of follow-up, a majority of asymptomatic, benign thyroid nodules exhibited no significant change in size, or actually decreased in size, and diagnoses of thyroid cancer were rare, according to a study in JAMA (2015; doi:10.1001/jama.2015.0956).
What is a complex thyroid nodule?
If the follicular cells are contained within the nodule, the condition is called benign. If the cells have invaded the surrounding tissue, the diagnosis is cancer. Thyroid cysts are nodules filled with fluid. If a nodule has both fluid and solid parts, it is called a complex nodule.