FAQs - Patients & Caregivers

1) How can the MiCK assay help to treat my cancer?

Usually, there are several chemotherapeutic agents that can be used in the course of therapy of a specific cancer. Not all chemotherapeutic agents are equally effective in eliminating tumor cells.

 
The MiCK assay may help your doctor select an agent or a combination of agents that would most effectively combat your tumor cells. You will not be exposed to ineffective chemotherapeutic agents thus avoiding their adverse effects.

2) Does my Doctor know about MiCK assay?

There are multiple publications in medical journals describing MiCK assay and its use in tumor cells' drug sensitivity testing. Links to websites where these publications can be found are located on the DiaTech Oncology Home page. Your doctor may be familiar with MiCK assay. If your Doctor has any questions, please ask him/her to give us a call at (615) 377-9668.

3) How do I get MiCK assay performed? Do I need to come to your office?

There is no need for you to come to our office in order to get the assay performed. Ask your Doctor to review the DiaTech Oncology web site and/or to talk to our staff. If your Doctor decides that it would be clinically beneficial for you to have MiCK assay performed, your Doctor will order the test. In order to set up the test we would need a small portion of your tumor, three to four tablespoons of your blood or a sample of your bone marrow. The type of the specimen will depend on the specific type of cancer. Your Doctor will have to arrange for the drawing of specimen and ordering of the MiCK assay.

4) How much does the MiCK assay cost? Will my insurance pay for the MiCK assay?

The MiCK assay is a new technology. Some insurance providers may cover its cost and DiaTech will provide you with a claim receipt to file to your provider. The charge for this test is $3000 USD. DiaTech accepts Master Card, Visa and personal checks.

5) Why hasn’t my Doctor already ordered the MiCK assay for me?

The MiCK assay has only recently become commercially available. Your Doctor can learn about the MiCK assay from our site or by calling our staff at (615) 377-9668.

6. What if I don’t have the resources to pay for the MiCK assay? Is there anything DiaTech can do to help?

DiaTech is creating the Patient Assistance Program to provide the MiCK assay for individuals who may not have the financial resources to pay for the test. This private and confidential program will be providing assistance based on individual need for the MiCK Assay test to those who, without our assistance, could not afford the test. To determine whether your patient may be a candidate for this service, please see who may qualify.