• Breast lump or structural change: New palpable mass, breast thickening or asymmetry requiring further investigation.
• Abnormal breast imaging: Suspicious findings on mammography, ultrasound or MRI needing additional assessment.
• Nipple or skin changes: Unexplained nipple discharge, inversion, dimpling or inflammatory breast symptoms.
• High-risk clinical background: Family history of breast cancer or known genetic risk factors requiring closer evaluation.
• Raised tumour markers: Laboratory findings suggestive of possible malignant activity.
• Diagnostic support: Clarifying cancer likelihood when conventional investigations are inconclusive or delayed.
• Symptom progression: Worsening breast symptoms or new systemic features prompting escalation of investigation.

Overview

Trublood® - Breast analyses circulating tumour cells and tumour-associated nucleic material detectable in peripheral blood. These biomarkers may reflect tumour presence and biological behaviour relevant to diagnostic assessment.

Breast cancer investigation often involves combining clinical examination, imaging and tissue sampling. In situations where findings are uncertain or biopsy is not feasible, blood-based tumour biomarker analysis may provide additional support in clarifying malignancy risk.

Results are interpreted alongside symptom history, radiological findings, tumour marker testing and specialist assessment. Reviewing circulating tumour biomarkers within this broader diagnostic framework may help guide further investigation or management decisions.

Practical

Specimen

Whole blood 

Container

• 1 x 2 ml SST tube (yellow colour cap) 
• 2 x EDTA tubes (purple colour cap) 
• 1 x 8 ml DCG tube

Volume

17 mL

Patient preparation

The patient must not have received any form of cancer therapy (radiation / chemo-therapy / surgery / endocrine therapy etc.) at least 15 days prior to collection of sample.
The patient must not have received oral or IV corticosteroids at least 15 days prior to collection of sample.
Patient has no current febrile or any other acute inflammatory illness.
Patient does not have acute exacerbation or flare-up of an inflammatory condition requiring escalation in medical therapy at least 5 days prior to collection of sample.
Patient has not received blood transfusion / PET-CT / CT scan at least 5 days prior to collection of sample.
Patient is not positive for HIV / HBV / HCV.