Invitae genetic testing sample source question

[Startech]

My MO has ordered a lymph node biopsy and the scheduling has been a nightmare. While sorting this out, I got to thinking why not just provide a sample from my prostate that was removed back in 2011? While investigating this on the Invitae website, it appears they only need whole blood to test. In fact, it specifically says they can not test tumor samples. I will probably call them, but wanted to ask here first. Thanks.

[Tall_Allen]

Prostate tissue has very different genomics from metastatic tissue.

Blood sampling of cell-free DNA (Guardant 360 and Foundation One also do it) is more expensive and less accurate than tumor sampling..

[Startech in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks TA, so go ahead with the biopsy and don't ask just for a blood draw?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Startech]

Do what you want to do. Also, blood doesn't distinguish between germline and somatic, which is not a problem, just something to keep in mind.

[Startech in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks again!👍

[Tall_Allen in reply to Startech]

I looked up Invitae. From what I can tell, it is germline only.

[Jpl506 in reply to Tall_Allen]

It is, I had it and it’s just the spit in a tube test. Dr. Liu had my biopsy samples tested with Tempus for somatic mutations. It required a blood draw too.

[dhccpa in reply to Jpl506]

Did your insurance or Medicare pay?

[Jpl506 in reply to dhccpa]

Insurance paid for the germline test but not for the somatic test. Both companies filed with my insurance and took whatever they got and wrote off what they couldn’t collect. I didn’t pay anything out of my pocket.

[dhccpa in reply to Jpl506]

I could accept that!

[Startech in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks, I'll ask if he planning on looking for somatic also.