For providers
Riskguard® Hereditary Cancer Test

The Riskguard® test helps you help your patients

The Riskguard® test is an assessment tool that can help uncover variants associated with an increased risk of common hereditary cancers and cancer-related syndromes. The actionable results can help you better understand your patients’ risk levels and management options, supporting personalized care.
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Gauge cancer risk to inform treatment and risk-management4-9
New York state-approved
Covered by Medicare and many commercial insurance plans*
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Gene panel

Evaluates 59 genes across 11 common cancer types. View the technical specifications or visit the Gene Information page to learn more.

Specimen requirements

3-5mL of blood collected in an EDTA tube, saliva sample or buccal (cheek) swab. See the specimen collection instructions.

Turnaround time

You should receive patient results approximately 14 to 21† days from sample receipt.
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Approximately 1 in 8 cancers are due to a hereditary cancer syndrome.1
Harness the power of genetic insights to personalize treatment and risk-management4-9
The Riskguard test can help patients with a personal or family history of cancer understand their risk of developing certain cancers, which can inform screening, treatment, and risks to family members. Actionable results offer insight into risk level and management options, leading to more personalized care.
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Hereditary cancer is common

Hereditary cancers, which account for approximately 10-15% of cancer diagnoses, are caused by pathogenic germline variants and are often associated with early onset cancer, aggressive forms of cancer, and multiple cancer diagnoses in an individual and/or family.1

A health care provider with stethoscope placing her hand on a patient’s shoulder.

Testing is under-utilized

It is estimated that only 7% of patients with cancer have received germline genetic testing,2 which could inform treatment. And the majority of both diagnosed and undiagnosed patients do not regret undergoing testing and are interested in learning all results from germline genetic testing.3

The Riskguard test checks 59 genes across 11 common cancer types
Approximately 1 in 8 cancers are due to a hereditary syndrome.1 The Riskguard test helps patients learn more about their genetic risk for some of the most common and aggressive cancer types.

Colorectal     Breast     Prostate     Pancreatic     Ovarian     Endometrial     Skin     Gastric     Kidney     Endocrine     Lung

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Who can the Riskguard test help?
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Patients without cancer
The Riskguard test helps inform the risk stratification for patients who have a family history of cancer by identifying variants in clinically actionable cancer-associated genes, which may inform a customized care path.

Customize a risk-management path

  • Lifestyle changes
  • Screening programs
  • Risk-reducing medication
  • Risk-reducing surgeries

A blonde woman looking off to the distance.
Patients with cancer
The Riskguard test can assist with informing an individualized plan for your patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. Knowing about certain gene variants can help you select optimal treatment.4-9

Inform optimal treatment

  • Surgical options
  • Increased surveillance
  • Targeted therapies

More ways to personalize patient care

Pair the Riskguard test with our Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test to help inform a more comprehensive treatment plan for newly diagnosed ER+/HER2- breast cancer.

Add the Riskguard test with our OncoExTra® genomic profiling test to enable more patients with advanced or metastatic cancer to be considered for targeted therapies.

We keep it simple and actionable

We want our results to be simple yet powerful. That's why we only report on variants in genes you can do something about based on guidelines and published literature. We provide easy-to-understand results that providers and patients can use for personalized care planning.

Negative sample report

PDF

Positive sample report

PDF

Uncertain sample report

PDF
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Complete access to our premium customer support before, during, and after testing

On-demand customer care

Call our customer care team for general questions. You can request Riskguard test kits, and ask about billing, ordering, and how to access results.

Call +1 866-662-6897

Genetic support for your patients

Our team of genetic counselors is available to answer questions you might have about the genetic testing process. If needed, we can connect patients with third-party genetic counseling services for a full consultation with our trusted partner, Genome Medical.‡

Genetic support for you

Ask customer care to connect you with one of our genetic counselors for an in-depth consult. We can help you understand and interpret Riskguard test results, including medical management options for your patient.

Patient education on demand

Want to help your patients learn about the Riskguard test? Genetic counselor Brandie Leach breaks down who the test is for, what the testing process is like, and how the results could inform your risks.
Is the Riskguard test right for your patient?
Your patients may be candidates for the Riskguard test if they meet any of the following criteria.
Rare cancers
The Riskguard test is appropriate for patients with rare cancers. Examples include patients with ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer or male breast cancer.10-12
Multiple cancers
Patients with multiple primary breast cancers, or synchronous or metachronous Lynch Syndrome (LS)-related cancers§ are good candidates for the Riskguard test.10,13
Cancer at an early age
If your patient was diagnosed with breast cancer ≤ 50 years of age, colorectal cancer < 50 years of age or endometrial cancer < 50 years of age, they are a candidate.10,13
Cancer with specific traits
Consider the Riskguard test if your patient has triple-negative breast cancer, a tumor with mismatch repair deficiency, metastatic breast or prostate cancer, or breast or prostate cancer and they have Ashkenazi ancestry.10,13,14

Billing is easy when you have a support team like ours

  • Coverage for eligible patients including Medicare and commercial insurance*
  • Specialized support for billing insurance and prior authorization
  • Flexible payment options for patients
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Provider resources
Download patient studies, screening tools, educational guides, and more.
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Ordering a test for your patients is fast and easy

Order tests, access results, and receive updates through your Provider Hub.

We're here for you

With questions about ordering the Riskguard test, insurance billing and payment options, checking results, or getting connected with a genetic counselor, call us at +1 866-662-6897 or email us at riskguard@exactsciences.com.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this test cost?
Most insurance plans cover eligible patients including Medicare and commercial insurance. Out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for the test, if any, are determined by the patient’s insurance company. They may have co-pay, co-insurance, deductible, or non-covered charges as determined by the individual’s plan. We offer flexible payment options to help with their cost.  
What are the CPT codes for the Riskguard® test?
Depending on the diagnosis of cancer in the patient, and any family history of cancer, the procedure codes for the Riskguard® test may differ based upon the cancer indication and payor policy. Patients can contact 866-662-6897, option 2, option 1, to obtain further assistance from the billing team.
What if I don’t have access to a genetic counselor?
Our team of genetic counselors is available to answer questions you might have about the genetic testing process, empowering more informed conversations between patients and healthcare providers. If needed, we can connect patients with third-party genetic counseling services for a full consultation with our trusted partner, Genome Medical.‡
Are your lab and test New York state certified?
Yes. New York State Approval Project ID 93819. For more information visit Wadsworth Center approved LDTs.

References

  1. Medicare and commercial insurance plans have specific inclusion criteria based on personal and family history of cancer.
  2. Estimated turnaround times based on data on file from previous testing, actual turnaround times may vary.
  3. There may be patient cost associated with independent genetic counseling services.
  4. LS-related cancers include colorectal, endometrial, gastric, ovarian, pancreatic, urothelial, brain(usually glioblastoma), biliary tract, and small intestine, as well as sebaceous adenomas, sebaceous carcinomas, and keratoacanthomas as seen in Muir-Torre syndrome.

  1. DeBortoli E, McGahan E, Yanes T, et al., Utility of Germline, Somatic and ctDNA Testing in Adults With Cancer, Cancer Med 2025;14(15):e71080.
  2. Kurian AW, Abrahamse P, Furgal A, et al. Germline Genetic Testing After Cancer Diagnosis. JAMA 2023;330(1):43-51.
  3. Idos GE, Kurian AW, Ricker C, et al. Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of the Diagnostic Yield and Patient Experience of Multiplex Gene Panel Testing For Hereditary Cancer Risk. JCO Precis Oncol 2019:3:PO.18.00217.
  4. Geyer CE Jr, Garber JE, Gelber RD, et al. OlympiA Clinical Trial Steering Committee and Investigators. Overall survival in the OlympiA phase III trial of adjuvant olaparib in patients with germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2 and high-risk, early breast cancer. Ann Oncol. 2022;33(12):1250-1268.
  5. Hussain M, Mateo J, Fizazi K, et al. PROfound Trial Investigators. Survival with olaparib in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(24):2345-2357.
  6. Golan T, Hammel P, Reni M, et al. Maintenance olaparib for germline BRCA-mutated metastatic pancreatic cancer. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:317-327.
  7. Ledermann J, Harter P, Gourley C, et al. Olaparib maintenance therapy in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer: A preplanned retrospective analysis of outcomes by BRCA status in a randomised phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2014;15:852-861.
  8. Domchek SM, Friebel TM, Singer CF, et al. Association of risk-reducing surgery in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers with cancer risk and mortality. JAMA. 2010;304(9):967-975.
  9. Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database. Metachronous colorectal cancer risks after extended or segmental resection in MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6 Lynch syndrome: multicentre study from the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database; Br J Surg 2025;1112(4):znaf061.
  10. Bedrosian I, Somerfield MR, Achatz MI, et al. Germline Testing in Patients With Breast Cancer: ASCO-Society of Surgical Oncology Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(5):584-604.
  11. Gressel GM, Frey MK, Norquist B, et al. Germline and somatic testing for ovarian Cancer: An SGO clinical practice statement. Gynecol Oncol. 2024:181:170-178
  12. Stoffel EM, McKernin SE, Brand R, et al. Evaluating Susceptibility to Pancreatic Cancer: ASCO Provisional Clinical Opinion. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(2):153-164
  13. Heald B, Hampel H, Church J, et al. Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer Position statement on multigene panel testing for patients with colorectal cancer and/or polyposis. Fam Cancer. 2020;19(3):223-239.
  14. Yu EY, Rumble RB, Agarwal N, et al. Germline and Somatic Genomic Testing for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(6):748-758.
The Exact Sciences Riskguard test was developed, and its performance characteristics validated by an Exact Sciences laboratory following College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations. The test is performed in Marshfield, WI at PreventionGenetics LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exact Sciences. PreventionGenetics is accredited by CAP, certified under CLIA regulations, and qualified to perform high-complexity clinical laboratory testing. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or other notified regulatory authority. Genomic Health, Inc., an Exact Sciences company, is the billing entity for the Riskguard test.