Skip to content
  • About
    • What we do
    • Our history
    • Our team
    • Our committees
    • Our partners
    • About genomics
  • Services
    • What we offer
    • Research we’re supporting
  • Tools & resources
    • Search all tools & resources
    • Research ethics & governance
    • Consent & patient support materials
    • Evaluating genomic research & translation
    • Data governance
    • Access our datasets
    • Data capture & standardisation
    • Data analysis & interpretation
    • Workforce education
    • Our publications
    • Our submissions
  • Our project areas
    • Our project areas
    • Genomic information management
    • Clinical genomic practice
    • Genomic literacy, workforce & training
    • Indigenous genomic priorities
    • Genomic diagnostics
    • Evaluating genomic research & translation
    • Australian health system policy & practice
    • Involvement & engagement
  • News & events
    • News
    • Events
    • Personal stories
    • Search news & events
  • Connect with us

Is faster better when it comes to genomic testing?

Home All news & events News Is faster better when it comes to genomic…
Young blue eyed baby boy

As genomic testing gets ever faster, a new Australian Genomics study finds substantial economic and personal benefits gained from faster turnaround times of genomic results. 

Researchers focused on a cohort of critically ill children and compared the economic and welfare impacts of rapid and ultra-rapid genomic testing with standard genomic testing. 

The findings, published in Genetics in Medicine, the official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), show that the early use of ultra-rapid testing in critically ill children could save Australia’s health system $7.3 million a year and have an annual welfare gain equivalent to $3.3 million – a total annual net benefit of $10.6 million. 

The study factors in the higher costs associated with rapid and ultra-rapid genomic testing and assesses whether these are outweighed by improvements in other factors, such as lower healthcare costs from less time spent in hospital, increases in personal utility relating to the reduction in the turnaround time for results, and improvements in the child’s medical care and health outcomes. 

It uses real-world hospital cost data and previously published evidence on the value of a timely genomic diagnosis in paediatric critical care to conclude that the economic and personal benefits do in fact justify the higher cost of ultra-rapid testing. 

 “The evidence, including health economic evidence, for the benefit of ultra-rapid genomic testing is now overwhelming, and it is time this became standard of care for critically ill children with rare disease,” lead investigator Professor Zornitza Stark said. 

Lead investigator Associate Professor Ilias Goranitis said the study made two important points: “First, families value a timely diagnosis very highly, and it is pertinent to formally consider that personal value of genomics in our evaluations and decision making.  

“Secondly, from a healthcare system perspective, ultra-rapid testing is cost saving, which means that it can free up resources to be used to maximize population health in other ways.” 

See the full paper here Is faster better? An economic evaluation of rapid and ultra-rapid genomic testing in critically ill infants and children. 

*The children were tested through the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance 


More news

A Question of Ethics blog series

Should parents be allowed to decline genomic testing for...

A Question of Ethics is a four-part blog series that explores the ethical issues surrounding...

February 2, 2023

Read More >

Report outlines implementation plan for national genomic data management

Clinical service providers and researchers would be able to access rapidly expanding genomic health data...

February 1, 2023

Read More >

The Shariant Network

Sharing variant information to improve diagnosis

A national platform for diagnostic laboratories to share genetic evidence and build consistent interpretations of...

November 4, 2022

Read More >


Connect with us

(03) 9936 6345
info@australiangenomics.org.au
50 Flemington Road, Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia

In the spirit of reconciliation Australian Genomics acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

To stay informed about our work, sign up to our newsletter

Subscribe

Quicklinks

  • Home
  • What we do
  • What we offer
  • Tools & resources
  • Our publications
  • Our project areas
  • Research we’re supporting
  • Our team

Privacy

  • We follow the Australian Privacy Principles
  • General privacy policy
  • Website privacy policies
  • Terms & conditions

Website by Blueboat.