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  P: 800.547.6165
  F: 800.549.6407
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Frequently Asked Questions about the ChemoFx® Assay
 

Q. What is the ChemoFx® Assay?
A. Precision Therapeutics' ChemoFx® Assay is an objective and reproducible cell-based assay that assesses the in vitro response of individual patient tumor cells to multi-dose anti-cancer drug exposure

Q. Why is the ChemoFx® Assay important?
A. Each patient's cancer is unique. Patients respond differently to the same anticancer drugs. Your treatment should be specific to you and your cancer. The ChemoFx® Assay helps your doctor see how your cancer cells may respond to various anticancer drugs. Your doctor chooses the drugs to be tested. The ChemoFx® Assay provides information that can assist your doctor in making difficult cancer treatment decisions, allowing personalized cancer therapy.

Q. How can the ChemoFx® Assay help me?
A. The ChemoFx® Assay focuses on the unique characteristics of your particular cancer. The results help your doctor to determine which anticancer drugs are most likely to respond your particular tumor. The ChemoFx® Assay also helps your doctor see which anticancer drugs are unlikely to respond to your cancer, which may allow you to avoid the physical, emotional, and financial cost of ineffective treatments. Your doctor can use this information, along with his/her experience and other information about you to determine the best treatment for your cancer.

Q. How is the ChemoFx® Assay done?
A. A portion of the cancer cells are removed during your procedure or surgery and sent to Precision Therapeutics. The cancer cells received are grown in our laboratory and treated with anticancer drugs selected by your doctor. After treatment, a member of the laboratory scientific staff determines the relative amount of cancer cells killed by each drug your doctor selects. A final report is prepared and sent to your doctor.

Q. Is the ChemoFx® Assay right for me?
A. The best way to determine if the Chemo Fx® Assay is right for you is to discuss the test with your doctor. This test may not be appropriate for all patients or cancer types. Once you review this information with your physician, if he/she needs additional information please have them contact our Account Specialists at 1.800.547.6165.

Q. How do you get my cancer cells?
A. If your doctor prescribes a procedure or surgery to remove cancer cells, Precision Therapeutics is sent a portion of those cells. Your cancer cells are grown from the specimen that we receive.

Q. Is there any added risk?
A. No. Precision Therapeutics is sent a portion of the cells that your doctor has already decided to remove for other diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. There is no additional risk to obtain cells for the ChemoFx® Assay during a procedure or surgery that has been medically prescribed by your doctor. Precision Therapeutics never suggests a procedure solely to obtain cancer cells for ChemoFx® testing.

Q. I already had my surgery; can you still test my cancer tissue?
A. The ChemoFx® Assay requires live cells. We are not able to use frozen or preserved cells. If it is medically necessary to perform a procedure or surgery in the future, cancer cells obtained at that time may be tested. The ChemoFx® Assay may also be performed on fluid collections such as ascites or pleural fluid.

Q. What exactly will the test tell my doctor?
A. The ChemoFx® Assay shows how your tumor cells respond to different anticancer drugs in the laboratory. Information from this test may help your doctor in determining the best course of treatment for you.

Q. Who pays for the ChemoFx® test?
A. The ChemoFx® Assay is covered by Medicare Part B and has been reimbursed by over 400 commercial insurance companies.

Precision will accept assignment from the patient's commercial health plan (i.e. Precision will not balance bill the patient) provided that the patient completes the Assignment of Benefits/Appointment of Authorized Representative form. Additionally, Precision will submit claims on behalf of the patient to the patient's health plan. Patients with commercial insurance will be responsible for applicable co-payments, deductibles and co-insurance as required by the policy. Precision reimbursement professionals will work diligently to obtain payment from your insurance company. Precision Therapeutics will do our very best to minimize any patient financial burden. For further information please contact the Billing Department toll free at 866.243.6639.

For more information please contact our Client Services department:

E-mail: Client.Services@PTILabs.com
Mail: Precision Therapeutics, Inc.
 

2516 Jane Street

 

Pittsburgh , PA 15203

Phone: 800.547.6165
Fax: 800.549.6407

Client Service is available 24 hours a day - 7 days a week

 
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