Quest Diagnostics Launches New Blood Test to Improve Myeloma Monitoring

Quest Diagnostics, a leading provider of diagnostic information services (NYSE: DGX), has announced the introduction of a groundbreaking blood test designed to help doctors detect very small amounts of residual cancer in patients with myeloma, a type of blood cancer also known as multiple myeloma. The new test, named Quest Flow Cytometry MRD for Myeloma, uses advanced flow cytometry technology to assess measurable residual disease (MRD) in the blood, delivering sensitivity comparable to next-generation sequencing methods — but at a lower cost and with broader accessibility.

Noninvasive Testing with High Sensitivity

Traditionally, MRD levels in myeloma patients are monitored using tests that rely on bone marrow biopsy samples. These procedures can be uncomfortable and are not always feasible for all patients. The Quest Diagnostics test, however, analyzes standard blood samples, eliminating the need for invasive bone marrow aspirations. This approach allows physicians to track remaining cancer cells more easily and with a level of sensitivity that rivals more expensive sequencing-based methods, making ultrasensitive MRD detection more practical for routine patient care.

Improved Specimen Stability and Access

One of the distinguishing features of the new assay is its enhanced specimen stability. Quest Diagnostics reports that blood samples remain stable for up to five days, extending the window for transporting specimens to laboratories — an improvement over conventional flow cytometry tests that typically require samples to be processed in three days or fewer. Given Quest’s extensive network of approximately 7,000 phlebotomy sites across the United States, this stability supports nationwide access and makes testing feasible even in locations that are far from major laboratory centers.

How the Blood Test Works

The test uses next-generation flow cytometry, a highly advanced laboratory technique that tags and measures cells with fluorescent markers to identify even very rare malignant cells in the bloodstream. This technology allows clinicians to detect minimal quantities of disease that may remain after treatment — a crucial indicator of how well a patient has responded to therapy and how likely the disease is to come back.

Unlike some next-generation sequencing (NGS) MRD tests, the Quest Flow Cytometry MRD for Myeloma test does not require a pre-treatment baseline sample. Many sequencing-based methods need a reference sample taken before treatment begins in order to compare changes over time. The Quest test removes this requirement, making ongoing monitoring possible even when a baseline sample is unavailable.

Clinical Use and Future Potential

Myeloma affects plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system. The disease can cause abnormal antibody production and bone damage, and it remains incurable in most cases despite significant advances in therapy. According to data highlighted by Quest Diagnostics, roughly 36,000 new cases of myeloma are diagnosed annually in the United States, with nearly 11,000 associated deaths each year. Monitoring MRD helps doctors understand whether cancer cells remain after treatment and guide decisions about additional therapy.

Physicians have started to adopt MRD assessment as part of treatment planning for multiple myeloma, as detecting low levels of residual disease is linked with better understanding of treatment effectiveness and long-term patient outcomes. While next-generation sequencing has been a powerful tool in MRD detection, its higher cost and need for bone marrow samples have limited its use. The Quest test promises to make sensitive MRD detection more broadly available — including in community-based clinics and for patients who cannot undergo invasive sampling.

Clinical Trials and Regulatory Context

In addition to clinical care applications, Quest Diagnostics anticipates that its new MRD blood test will be valuable in clinical trials. In January 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published draft guidance indicating that MRD could serve as a primary endpoint in clinical studies evaluating new therapies for myeloma. This draft guidance suggests an increasing role for MRD testing in supporting accelerated approval of novel treatments, potentially speeding up access to promising new drugs for patients with this serious disease.

Experts within Quest Diagnostics also noted that the reception from the medical community has been very positive. At major professional meetings such as the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, clinicians and researchers expressed strong interest in the test’s potential to enhance MRD monitoring, reduce costs, and improve patient care. This response reinforces the idea that enhanced, accessible testing could become part of the standard of care for multiple myeloma patients.

Quest Diagnostics’ Broader Oncology Testing Portfolio

This new MRD assay complements Quest Diagnostics’ existing oncology testing services, which include specialized assays for a range of tumor types and blood disorders. Quest already offers tests like the Haystack MRD® test — designed to detect residual disease in solid tumors such as colorectal cancer — and continues to expand its portfolio of advanced diagnostic tools aimed at improving early detection, treatment monitoring, and outcomes for patients with cancer.

By integrating this latest blood test into its suite of diagnostic services, Quest aims to support healthcare providers in offering more precise, less invasive, and more cost-effective monitoring options for individuals living with myeloma. Moving forward, continued advances in MRD detection technology could play a central role in personalized cancer care and help shape the future of oncology diagnostics.

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