Cancer genetics - clinician services
Custom Cancer Panel
When no standard panel fits the clinical question, we build one that does. A gene panel configured to your exact oncological requirements – your genes, your patient population, your practice.
Fully configurable
Blood or tumour sample
Clinician-ordered
SA-processed
Overview
What this service is
Standard panels are designed for common clinical scenarios. Not every practice – and not every patient – fits that template. The custom panel service exists for oncologists and oncology practices whose clinical needs fall outside what a fixed panel can address.
Working directly with your team, we design and validate a targeted sequencing panel built around the specific genes relevant to your patient population, cancer type, or treatment pathway. The result is a test that answers your clinical question precisely, without the noise of genes outside your scope, and without the limitations of a panel built for someone else’s practice.
When to use it
Clinical scenarios this service addresses
01
Rare or specialist cancer types
Your patient population involves a cancer type – or a combination of types – not covered by our standard panels. A custom configuration ensures the genes you need are included and validated.
02
Practice-specific gene lists
Your oncology practice has developed its own evidence-based gene list for hereditary risk assessment or tumour profiling. We build to your specification rather than asking you to adapt to ours.
03
Secondary screen after a standard panel
A patient has returned a negative result on a standard panel but clinical suspicion remains. A targeted extended panel covering specific additional genes may resolve the diagnostic question.
04
Research or institutional requirements
Your institution or study protocol requires a specific gene set not available in a standard commercial offering. We can configure, validate, and run panels to meet defined research or clinical trial requirements.
What we offer
Three ways to work with us
Option 1
Extend an existing panel
Start from one of our standard panels – BrCA, BrRCo, or OPA – and add the specific genes your clinical scenario requires. The fastest route to a customised result.
Option 2
Build from scratch
Provide your gene list and we design, validate, and run a panel built entirely to your specification. Suitable for specialist practices with established clinical protocols.
Option 3
Consult and configure
Not sure which genes to include? Our genetics team will work with you to define the optimal panel composition for your patient population and clinical question.
How it works
From clinical brief to result
01
Clinical consultation
We start with a direct conversation - your clinical question, your patient population, and the gene coverage you need. This ensures the panel is designed around real diagnostic utility, not a generic specification.
02
Panel design and validation
Our laboratory team designs and validates a targeted sequencing assay specific to your gene list. Validation ensures the panel performs to clinical standard across the variants and sample types you'll be submitting.
03
Sample collection and processing
Blood, saliva, or tumour samples are accepted depending on the panel design. All processing takes place in our South African laboratory.
04
Results and reporting
Results are reported against the validated gene list with clinical interpretation. Our genetics team is available for direct consultation on complex or ambiguous findings.
Why Genetix
What makes this service different
South African processing
All panels are designed, validated, and processed in a South African laboratory. No offshore delays, no international logistics, no loss of sample control.
Direct clinical collaboration
You work directly with our genetics team, not a sales layer. Panel design decisions are made with clinical input, not commercial defaults.
African ancestry coverage
Our sequencing infrastructure is built with diverse population coverage in mind – including South African and broader African ancestry groups underrepresented in standard commercial panels.
Sample requirements
What we need from you
Sample type
Blood (EDTA tube), saliva, or tumour tissue, determined during panel design consultation
Clinical brief
A clear clinical question and gene list, or a consultation with our team to define one
Turnaround
Agreed during the design consultation. Dependent on panel complexity and validation requirements
Important to note
Blood (EDTA tube), saliva, or tumour tissue, determined during panel design consultation
- Custom panels require an initial consultation before any sample is submitted. This ensures the assay is built to the right specification.
- Turnaround times vary by panel complexity. Lead time for design and validation is additional to standard processing time.
- This service is available to registered clinicians and oncology practices. It is not a direct-to-consumer offering.
Further reading
CD Genomics. What are cancer panels and what can they detect? Available at: cd-genomics.com
Our genetics team is your clinical partner.
From panel design through to result interpretation, you have direct access to our geneticists - not a call centre. Complex findings are discussed clinician-to-clinician, with the full context of your patient's case.