About Us

LifeStrands Genomics Australia is a NATA and CAP accredited molecular laboratory that specialises in cancer genomics.

Recognising the growing need for cancer genomics and prevention, LifeStrands Genomics Australia was established in Melbourne with a focus on oncology research and advanced genetic testing. We believe that everyone should have access to better healthcare through advancement in clinical genomics.

LifeStrands Genomics Australia is a part of the Pathology Asia group, the fastest growing medical diagnostics group in Australasia and Southeast Asia.

LifeStrands Genomics Singapore

Specialising in germline testing, predictive testing, pharmacogenomics and spatial genomics. A newly created division of Pathology Asia, LifeStrands Singapore focuses on clinical genetic testing for germline testing of rare and familial diseases, prenatal DNA testing and reproductive health genetic tests.

The laboratory’s advanced spatial genomics division provides testing on some of the most advanced spatial transcriptomics platforms like Nanostring’s CosMx and GeoMx, ACDBio and 10x Genomics.

Link to website

www.spatial.lifestrandsgx.com

DNA Laboratories

DNA Laboratories is a leading molecular diagnostic lab focusing on reproductive health, women’s health and genetic testing. With over 15 years of experience, DNA Laboratories was the pioneer and first lab for NIPT testing in Malaysia. DNA Laboratories is a company of LifeStrands Genomics, under the Pathology Asia Holdings genomics and life sciences division which operates out of Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Link to website

TissuPath

TissuPath is the premier specialist anatomical pathology practice in Victoria, Australia. Established in 2004 and independently owned and operated by the reporting pathologists, TissuPath takes pride in providing the highest levels of quality and personalised service to its requesting doctors and their patients.

Link to website

Innoquest Diagnostics (Singapore)

A merger of Innovative Diagnostics and Quest Laboratories, Innoquest Diagnostics Pte Ltd was officially launched in March 2021.  Operating from eight facilities nationwide, Innoquest is one of the largest diagnostics providers in Singapore, with the capability to perform tests for over 10,000 patient episodes a day.

Link to website

Innoquest Pathology (Malaysia)

Innoquest Pathology (formerly Gribbles Pathology) commenced operations in 1996 and is now the largest private provider of diagnostic laboratory services in the region with over 1,200 staff nationwide and an established network of 60 electronically-linked pathology facilities throughout Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

Link to website

Safework Health Australia

Safework Health provides bespoke Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) solutions. Headquartered in Melbourne, Safework Health operates six NATA accredited laboratories in Australia. It offers a breadth of advisory services and testing capabilities, spanning laboratory and screening tests with an unrivalled ‘Guaranteed 24 Hour Turnaround’ of results from receipt of samples.

Link to website

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.