For patients
Riskguard® Hereditary Cancer test

Knowledge that gives you power over your health

The Riskguard test is an assessment tool that can help uncover hereditary cancer risk. With just a simple blood, saliva, or buccal (cheek) swab sample, it checks for hereditary genetic changes that can cause an increased risk for certain cancers.
An older woman, younger woman, and child, all in profile looking to the right.
Is this test right for you?
The Riskguard test is for patients who have a personal or family history of cancer.
Sample type
Provide an in-office blood, saliva, or buccal (cheek) swab sample, or get an at-home saliva test kit sent directly to you.
Outcome
You'll discover if you have a hereditary cancer condition, and if so, work with your provider to create a customized care plan.
A family smiling and looking at a paper together; an older woman, a younger man and woman, and two children.
Approximately 1 in 8 cancers are due to a hereditary cancer syndrome.1
Use genetic insights to learn your hereditary cancer risk
The Riskguard test continues Exact Sciences’ commitment to help detect cancer earlier and guide personalized treatment. If you have a personal or family history of cancer, it can help you understand your risk, as well as inform screening, treatment, and cancer risks to other family members.
A younger woman hugging an older man.
Hereditary syndromes are a common cause of cancer
Hereditary cancers account for around 10-15% of cancer diagnoses and are often associated with early onset cancer, aggressive forms of cancer, and multiple cancer diagnoses.1
A healthcare provider talking to a patient across a desk.
Genetic testing can give you powerful information  
The Riskguard test can help inform cancer prevention strategies and cancer treatment paths. The majority of patients do not regret undergoing genetic testing and are interested in learning all their results.2

Get to know 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.
Answering your biggest questions

How can the Riskguard test help?

Whether you have a family history of cancer or have already been diagnosed, the Riskguard test can help you make better informed decisions going forward.
An older woman sitting on a couch, holding hands with someone off camera.
Uncover your hereditary cancer risk
If you have a family history of cancer, the Riskguard test can help you know if you have inherited changes in your genes that are linked to cancer, and may inform risk-reducing strategies.
A healthcare provider placing their hand on a patient’s back.
Guide your cancer treatment path
If you have been diagnosed with cancer, the Riskguard test can help you know about hereditary changes in your genes that can assist you and your provider in making a treatment path customized to you.
Tailored treatment and risk-management journeys
The Riskguard test can help you and your provider tailor an individualized treatment or risk-management journey, guided by genetics.3-8

Easy-to-understand results

Receive easy-to-understand results via your Exact Sciences patient account, with potential next steps for a personalized care plan.
A doctor explaining test results to a patient using a tablet.
We work hard to make understanding results easy
Sometimes receiving results can be complicated. That's why we've made our results easy to understand for you and your provider, and our dedicated customer care team will be there every step of the way to walk you through the testing process.
A glowing purple circle with a negative sign in the middle.
A negative result means you’ll have powerful information
Negative results could mean less frequent screenings and avoiding unnecessary treatment.1-3 You and your provider can use this information, along with your family history and other factors, to decide next steps.
A glowing purple circle with a plus sign in the middle.
A positive result does not mean you’ll develop cancer
A positive result does not mean you’ll develop cancer; it means you may be at a higher risk than average. We’re here to support patients and providers as you create a personalized risk-management or treatment plan.
A glowing purple circle with a magnifying glass icon in the middle.
An uncertain result means there’s not enough data
An uncertain result means there isn't enough data available to determine whether a gene alteration increases cancer risk or not. As new research is conducted, more information could be made available.
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

A lab technician examining a vial of blood.

Not all questions have to mean an office visit

Our on-demand customer service team is just a phone call away. We can answer questions big and small — before, during, and after testing.

On-demand customer care

Call our customer care team with general questions about the Riskguard test, billing, insurance coverage, and flexible payment plans.

Call +1 866-662-6897

Genetic counselors

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

You have enough things to worry about, insurance coverage shouldn’t be one of them.

  • Covered by Medicare and many commercial insurance plans†
  • We’ll contact patients with an estimated out-of-pocket over $100
  • Flexible payment options
A man sitting on a couch holding a mobile device, looking at it smiling.
Patient resources
Want to learn more about the Riskguard test? Visit our resources page to watch videos, read educational materials, and access your patient account.
A woman using a mobile device.
What happens once your provider orders your test?
Your Riskguard test requires just a simple blood, saliva, or buccal (cheek) swab sample. And getting the results is simple too.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this test cost?
The cost is dependent on multiple factors. Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover the test for eligible patients. Out-of-pocket costs for the test, if any, are determined by a patient’s insurance company. Patients may have financial responsibility for a co-pay, co-insurance, deductible, or non-covered charges as determined by their individual plan. We do offer interest-free flexible payment options. For additional information about billing please contact +1 866-662-6897.
Does a doctor have to order my test? Or can I order a test for myself?
You cannot order the test yourself. The Riskguard test must be ordered by your healthcare provider and will be performed during your office visit. We offer both blood and saliva tests so you and your provider can decide which option is best for you.
How long does it take to get my results back?
Results are available in approximately 14 to 21 days.‡ Your healthcare provider will review your results and design a customized a customized care plan with you. For additional help understanding your results or exploring your care options, contact customer care for assistance at +1 866-662-6897.

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.

References and footnotes

  1. There may be a patient cost associated with independent genetic counseling services.
  2. Medicare and commercial insurance plans have specific inclusion criteria based on personal and family history of cancer.
  3. Estimated turnaround times based on data on file from previous testing, actual turnaround times may vary.

  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. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
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.