A Drop of the Good Stuff The first CE-marked droplet digital PCR test helps determine when leukemia treatment can safely be discontinued Michael Schubert | 01/18/2018











Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) poses an interesting challenge for treating physicians. Though the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy took CML from fatal to treatable, it is difficult to determine at what point (if at all) patients are able to discontinue chemotherapy without appreciable risk of recurrence. The ability to detect subtle increases in BCR-ABL fusion gene transcript levels early, reliably, and with minimal variation is critical for clinicians to make rapid treatment decisions. However, current monitoring methods lack sensitivity and are subject to high levels of variability both within and between laboratories. Effectively managing and monitoring CML patients requires a molecular test with high sensitivity, precision, and reproducibility.

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About the Author

Michael Schubert

While obtaining degrees in biology from the University of Alberta and biochemistry from Penn State College of Medicine, I worked as a freelance science and medical writer. I was able to hone my skills in research, presentation and scientific writing by assembling grants and journal articles, speaking at international conferences, and consulting on topics ranging from medical education to comic book science. As much as I’ve enjoyed designing new bacteria and plausible superheroes, though, I’m more pleased than ever to be at Texere, using my writing and editing skills to create great content for a professional audience.