LifeStrands Genomics Australia offers a variety of molecular tests including cutting edge Next Generation Sequencing assays (under the trademark OncoStrands® brand), various PCR based tests, and relevant immunohistochemical stains.

Next Generation Sequencing Assays

  • OncoStrands® Essential Combined (DNA + CNV + Fusions) (brochure)
    • A 50 gene targeted NGS panel covering key cancer related genes for different tumour types including those in lung, colon, skin (melanoma), urinary bladder, thyroid, brain, etc. The panel covers DNA hotspots from 45 genes, CNVs from 14 genes and fusions from 18 genes.
  • OncoStrands® Essential DNA
    • This assay covers the DNA only (mutations and CNV) component of the above assay and can be performed as a standalone test.
  • OncoStrands® Essential Fusion (RNA – Fusions only)
    • This assay covers the RNA only (fusions) component of the above assay and can be performed as a standalone test.
  • OncoStrands® DNA 68
    • A 68 gene hybrid capture DNA NGS panel with coverage of full coding regions of 68 key cancer related genes (plus TERT promoter region) including BRCA1 and BRCA2. Can be ordered in combination with the Essential Fusion Panel (please see above) if screening for fusions is clinically important.
  • OncoStrands® Extended ( brochure )
    • A 108 gene hybrid capture DNA NGS panel with a coverage of full coding regions of 103 genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA 2, and many other DNA damage repair genes. The assay also provides accurate MSI score. The gene contents are particularly useful for tumours in prostate, breast, ovary and fallopian tube, pancreas, biliary tract, uterus, and colon. Can be ordered in combination with the Essential Fusion Panel (see above) if screening for fusions is clinically important.
  • OncoStrands® Comprehensive Fusion (RNA – Fusions only)
    • This is the Illumina TruSight™ RNA Fusion Panel. The assay offers comprehensive analysis of known and novel fusion transcripts in 501 genes and is well suited for genomic profiling of fusions in a pan-cancer setting, particularly for all types of sarcomas.
  • OncoStrands® Comprehensive ( brochure )
    • This is the Illumina TSO500 Panel offering comprehensive genomic analysis of 523 genes and targets SNVs, CNVs, fusions, MSI, and TMB. The assay provides an extensive coverage of NCCN biomarker testing guidelines, genes associated with FDA approved targeted therapies, and clinical trials matching for a variety of tumours.
  • OncoStrands Comprehensive HRD
    • This is the Illumina TSO500 HRD Panel offering comprehensive genomic analysis of 523 genes and targets SNVs, CNVs, fusions, MSI, TMB, and HRD. The assay provides an extensive coverage of NCCN biomarker testing guidelines, genes associated with FDA approved targeted therapies, and clinical trials matching for a variety of tumours. Additionally, tumour HRD status is determined to guide PARPi therapies.
  • OncoStrands Neuro-Oncology
    • A 100 gene hybrid capture DNA NGS panel covering the full coding regions of 94 genes, hotspot regions in 5 genes, and selected TERT promoter alterations to assist CNS tumour classification as per the WHO 2021 guidelines. Additionally, the assay detects chromosome level copy number changes in chromosomes 1p, 6, 7, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 19q. This panel is suitable for testing both adult and paediatric CNS tumours.

Gene List for NGS Panels

  • This ( link ) includes the list of all genes in our NGS panels.

PCR based Assays

  • MLH1 Promoter Methylation
  • MGMT Promoter Methylation

Immunohistochemical Stains

  • ALK
  • ROS1
  • MMR (MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6)
Stuff More Stuff
  • Listed stuff

ABOUT US

CLINICIANS

BLOG

CONTACT

Facebook Linkedin
Copyright © 2025 Lifestrands Genomics Australia

PAH2-1

Turnaround Times

We understand the importance of timely results which is crucial for cancer patient management.

Result turnaround times for our assays are class-leading, ranging from approximately 4 to 14 working days from specimen receipt in our laboratory.

Estimated turnaround times for some of our assays upon receiving the specimen in our laboratory –

  1. OncoStrands™ Essential Panel – within 5 working days
  2. OncoStrands™ DNA 68 Panel – within 10 working days
  3. OncoStrands™ Extended Panel – within 10 working days
  4. OncoStrands™ Comprehensive Fusion Panel – within 10 working days
  5. OncoStrands™ Comprehensive Panel – within 14 working days

Consistency

LifeStrands participates in a variety of national and international Quality Assurance Programs, not only to satisfy the conditions for fulfilling on-going accreditation and compliance requirements but also to maintain the highest standards and reliability of our test results.

We are currently enrolled in the following Quality Assurance Programs – 

  1. RCPA QAP
  2. CAP PT program, and
  3. EMQN 

Cost

We use currently available Medicare rebateable items for all types of solid tumour testing offered through our laboratory. Given below is the list of Medicare items and tests utilised against each item, for which there is no out of pocket cost for eligible patients –

  1. NSCLC – Medicare # 73437 (DNA variants : EGFR, BRAF, KRAS and MET; fusions: ALK, ROS1, RET, NTRK1/2/3), Essential Combined panel
  2. NSCLC – Medicare # 73438 (EGFR, BRAF, KRAS, MET), Essential DNA panel
  3. NSCLC – Medicare # 73351 (EGFR T790), Essential DNA panel
  4. NSCLC – Medicare # 73439 (ALK, ROS1, RET, NTRK1/2/3), Essential Fusion panel
  5. Colorectal cancer – Medicare # 73338 (KRAS, NRAS), Essential DNA panel
  6. Melanoma – Medicare # 73336 (BRAF), Essential DNA panel
  7. Glioma (Including Glioneuronal Tumour, Glioblastoma) – Medicare # 73429 (IDH1/2, 1p19q co-deletion, others), Neuro-oncology panel
  8. Glioblastoma – Medicare # 73373, MGMT methylation
  9. Secretory ca breast/salivary – Medicare # 73433 (NTRK 1/2/3 fusions), Essential RNA panel
  10. Tumour agnostic <18 yrs (Paediatric) – Medicare # 73433 (NTRK 1/2/3 fusions), Essential RNA panel
  11. Prostate – Medicare # 73303 (BRCA1/2), Extended panel
  12. Ovarian – Medicare # 73301 (BRCA1/2), Extended panel
  13. Ovarian – Medicare # 73307 (HRD, BRCA1/2), Comprehensive + HRD panel
  14. Sarcoma – Medicare # 73376, Comprehensive Fusion panel

Please contact LifeStrands Genomics Australia for tests that attract out-of-pocket fees.

Quality

Our laboratory is full accredited for compliance with NPAAC standards and ISO 15189.

We are the first Australian laboratory to receive full accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and the first Australian laboratory to hold dual NATA and CAP accreditations.