Patient FAQs

Patient FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions about the Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test are listed below. If you do not find the information you are looking for, please feel free to contact us.

  • About the Test
  • Billing and Insurance
  • Getting the Test

The Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test is a blood test that looks for signals in your blood that may be linked to pancreatic cancer. It checks several different markers at once and uses advanced technology to see whether an abnormal pancreatic cancer–related signal is present. The test is performed in ClearNote Health’s CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory. 

The Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test is for people who may have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer, including: 

  • People with a family history of pancreatic cancer 
  • People with certain inherited genetic risks 
  • Adults age 50 or older who were recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 

This test is not meant for people at average risk and must be ordered by a healthcare provider. 

Pancreatic cancer is often found at later stages, when it can be harder to treat. For people at higher risk—such as those with a family history, certain genetic conditions, or type 2 diabetes diagnosed after age 50—earlier evaluation may help guide care sooner. 

When pancreatic cancer is detected early, treatment may significantly improve outcomes. 

This means the test did not find a pancreatic cancer–related signal at the time of testing. This does not completely rule out pancreatic cancer. Your doctor may recommend continued monitoring or repeat testing based on your personal risk. 

This means the test found an abnormal signal that may be linked to pancreatic cancer. This result is not a cancer diagnosis. More testing—such as imaging—is needed to understand what’s causing the signal. In some cases, it may be related to non-cancer pancreatic conditions. 

The Avantect test does not diagnose cancer. Imaging and other tests are still needed to confirm what’s going on. Your healthcare provider will guide you through next steps. 

ClearNote Health works with most insurance plans and bills insurance directly. Coverage depends on your individual plan. If insurance does not cover the test or if you have out-of-pocket costs, ClearNote Health offers financial assistance. 

ClearNote Health offers: 

  • Financial assistance for eligible patients 
  • Flexible payment plans 
  • Self-pay options 
  • Payment through HSAs or FSAs 

You can talk with the Customer Success Team before testing to understand possible costs and options. 

If your insurance leaves a balance, ClearNote Health will send you a bill based on your coverage or assistance options. If you have questions, the Customer Success Team can help review your bill and discuss next steps, based on your individual circumstances. 

Please contact our Customer Success Team at + +1 858-465-6962.  

  1. Your healthcare provider orders the test 
  2. A blood sample is collected (no fasting needed) 
  3. The sample is sent to the lab for testing 

 

No. You can eat and drink normally.

Results are usually ready within about two weeks after the lab receives your blood sample.

Your healthcare provider receives the results and will talk with you about what they mean and what comes next.

Important information

The Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test is an early detection test. The test does not establish a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and results should be considered in the context of other clinical criteria. Definitive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer usually requires a series of imaging scans, blood tests, and a biopsy. Not all pancreatic cancers will be detected. Some patients with pancreatic cancer may have a “Pancreatic Cancer Signal not detected” result. Some patients without pancreatic cancer may have a “Pancreatic Cancer Signal detected” result. False-negative and false-positive results are possible. A “Signal not detected” result does not guarantee that no pancreatic cancer is present. In some cases, no result is obtained. While this is very uncommon, it may be caused by shipping delays or when there is not enough cell-free DNA for the test in the patient’s blood. If this happens, we generally ask for a repeat blood sample for testing at no extra cost. 

The test was developed in the ClearNote Health CLIA-certified (CLIA# 05D2249973) and CAP-accredited (CAP# 9219174) laboratory and has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

References and notes

  1. ClearNote Health, data on file.