Liquid biopsy is a simple blood test that can identify tumor DNA, tumor cells, and/or other tumor-specific markers circulating in the blood. This type of test, in conjunction with traditional tissue biopsy, can help a provider better understand the unique and specific genetic alterations of a patient’s cancer. These explicit insights can help identify targeted therapies, including those being studied in clinical trials, and allow providers to devise treatment regimens personalized to each tumor’s profile. Targeting a specific tumor’s vulnerabilities avoids the “one size fits all” approach of more traditional treatment paradigms using chemotherapy and radiation.

More precise and less invasive diagnostics are only one piece of the puzzle, with efficient tests minimizing the risk of complications to make cancer care accessible for more people. With one in five Americans living in rural locations, distance to health care facilities can be a significant barrier. One study found that rural breast cancer patients in the US typically travel three times farther than urban patients for treatment. To overcome the distance and travel barrier, Labcorp has more than 2,000 patient service centers across the US, with hundreds of Labcorp at Walgreens sites offering convenient access. Labcorp also offers access to diagnostics through private doctor’s offices, rural and community-based clinics, and at-home phlebotomy visits. The goal is that every patient will be able to find the care they need within ten miles of home.

Labcorp’s extensive laboratory network provides patients with the benefits of updated science from the frontlines of oncology research and treatment development—no matter where they live. Test samples are delivered to the specialty labs by direct shipment or delivered by ground and air couriers, wherever the specimen was collected. Efficient testing and reporting allow providers to deliver more agile patient care.

A lack of diversity and inclusion in clinical trials is another hurdle Labcorp aims to overcome. Clinical trials are a crucial part of developing new therapies and treatments. The efficacy and safety of new drugs are determined from the responses of those participating in the trial, which may be limited if the study doesn’t include a representative and diverse group of patients. Historically, underserved groups and lower income individuals have been less represented in clinical trials for a number of reasons, including inequity in healthcare access, disease awareness, and logistical challenges that can make participation nearly impossible. For those who may seek out a clinical trial, travel requirements alone can exclude those without means. One study found that about 40% of all patients with metastatic cancer had to drive over an hour, each way, in order to participate in a clinical trial.

Insights from Labcorp’s patient outreach program (with more than 125,000 patients opted in and growing) has helped Labcorp improve trial design by more efficiently identifying patients who are eligible to participate. Once a patient is identified and enrolled in a study, their participation can be made less burdensome through the use of decentralized clinical trial (DCT) techniques. Most trials still require an in-person examination, including a range of testing, to determine eligibility and complete enrollment, which may involve some travel. However, Labcorp has partnered with