What Does an At-Home Cancer Test Actually Tell You?
If an MCD test detects these DNA fragments, you’ll receive a positive result; if no DNA fragments are detectable, you’ll receive a negative result.
Although MCD tests look for genetic markers, “they are not genetic tests, meaning, they don’t indicate a genetic predisposition to cancer, which is a common misconception,” says Marianne Dubard-Gault, MD, a geneticist/cancer geneticist with the Providence Swedish Cancer Institute and the medical director of its Hereditary Cancer Clinic in Seattle.
Sometimes the DNA fragments that are found in cancer cells are also found in benign tumors or growths, says Dr. Dubard-Gault, and that could trigger a false positive, which incorrectly indicates that you may have cancer. This can lead to unnecessary follow up tests, as well as stress and anxiety. In fact, research has shown that some MCD tests do result in false positives.
In other cases, the tests may fail to detect cancer that’s present (a false negative).
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