Genetic testing, such as for hereditary cancer or prenatal screening, often involves an anxious waiting period for results. Myriad Genetics is a major laboratory providing these genetic insights. Understanding the timeline for their lab review can help manage expectations, as the process is composed of several distinct phases, each with potential for variation.
Standard Turnaround Time
The typical duration for the Myriad lab review, known as the Turnaround Time (TAT), is approximately two weeks for its most common offering, the MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Test. This timeframe begins only after the physical sample has been successfully received and formally accessioned by the laboratory. For many patients, the entire process from the time the sample leaves the clinic until results are ready falls within this window. This standard timeline reflects the highly automated and optimized sequencing and analysis workflow within the lab. Other tests have similar expected timelines; for instance, the Prequel Prenatal Screen often has a shorter TAT, closer to one week.
Initial Steps and Verification
Before genetic analysis begins, several administrative and logistical steps must be completed that affect the overall wait time. The first step involves the sample’s transport to the lab, where it is logged and given a unique accession number upon arrival. This accessioning process involves entering details from the Test Request Form (TRF) into the laboratory’s central database. The TRF must be signed by the healthcare provider and contain all necessary patient and insurance information for the test to proceed.
Concurrent with this logging, Myriad initiates the billing and insurance verification process, often providing a cost estimate to the patient within 48 hours of sample receipt. Although technical sample processing generally begins immediately, any discrepancies or missing information on the TRF can temporarily halt the entire process until resolved with the ordering provider.
Reasons for Extended Processing
Delays that push the timeline beyond the standard two weeks are typically due to non-standard issues encountered during the testing pipeline. One common cause is a problem with the collected specimen, such as insufficient quantity or poor quality of the extracted DNA, which may necessitate a re-collection from the patient. Internal Quality Control (QC) criteria might also not be met during the sequencing run, requiring the laboratory to re-process the existing sample to ensure data accuracy. Prolonged insurance authorization holds can sometimes prevent the final report from being released, even if the technical work is complete.
Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS)
The complexity of the genetic findings themselves can also extend the review period, especially when a Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS) is detected. If the lab’s initial analysis identifies a novel or ambiguous genetic change, it may require a secondary, more detailed review by a clinical molecular geneticist. Myriad leverages its extensive database to classify these findings, but this deeper interpretive analysis adds time to the overall process.
Finalizing and Delivering the Report
The final stage of the lab review involves the generation and delivery of the official genetic report. Once sequencing and initial interpretation are complete, the data undergoes a rigorous Quality Control (QC) review by Myriad’s internal team to verify accuracy and clinical relevance. This QC step ensures the integrity of the results before they are compiled into the final patient report.
The finalized report, which includes actionable medical management recommendations, is then transmitted to the ordering healthcare provider. Patients often track this final step as the status changes to “clinical review,” indicating the results have been sent to the physician’s office. The ordering provider is responsible for interpreting the results and disclosing them to the patient, which marks the end of the laboratory’s official turnaround time.