Quest Diagnostics has now expanded its  access cancer diagnostics services to 25 metros and Tier I cities across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kochi.

The US-based diagnostic major started its Indian operations in 2008 through a full service laboratory in Gurgaon, and esoteric testing laboratories based in US. Recently introduced services include testing to help detect hematological, or blood, cancers using next-generation sequencing, an advanced technique that identifies mutations and variants in an individual’s DNA or genome.

Another service is a test that assesses the ROS1 gene mutation status to help determine a patient’s response to a certain lung cancer therapy. The company also provides testing for breast, cervical, prostate, soft tissue, bone and several other cancers.

“The incidence of cancer cases is on the rise in India. Today, patients and the treating physician need accurate and reliable diagnostic insights in order to make the right treatment decision,” said Mukul Bagga, managing director, Quest Diagnostics India.

“The important advances in cancer diagnostics are occurring in the field of genomics and molecular testing. Yet, technology and expertise constraints can limit access by clinicians and patients in India. Clinicians and patients in major cities of India can now access the international experience and clinical operations of Quest Diagnostics, the world leader in diagnostic information services, including cancer testing, in India and the US,” he added.

The company has a 65,000 sq. feet laboratory in Gurgaon, which provides a broad spectrum of testing services in cardiology, gynecology, endocrinology, infectious diseases among others. In April 2011 it began a pilot program to provide cancer diagnostic services from its US and Gurgaon labs to patients in the New Delhi and the National Capital Region.

In India, Quest has been first to offer many path-breaking diagnostic testing services in cancer, such as Papby liquid-based cytology for screening cervical cancer and Leumeta, proprietary plasma based test for leukaemia

Its advanced digital pathology platform is used to exchange medical information and seek the expert opinion from among a panel of 600 organ-focused Quest experts based in the US. Data reported at the recently held Indian cancer congress which is a retrospective review of 500 cancer cases that were referred for an expert opinion revealed that 40 per cent had their original treatment protocols changed after review of those cases by the panel of Quest experts.

Cancer incidence and mortality has been steadily rising with 979,786 cases diagnosed in India in year 2010 to 1,148,757 cases projected by 2020 Also as per national representative survey, published in Lancet 2012, May edition, the mortality due to cancer in India was found to be 556,400 cases in 2010 which called for the need to detect early with accurate diagnosis and monitoring.