Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the US have unveiled a new blood test that could change the way multiple myeloma (MM) and its precursor conditions are diagnosed and monitored.

The SWIFT-seq method offers a less invasive alternative to traditional bone marrow biopsies, leveraging single-cell sequencing for profiling circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in the blood.

According to the institute, bone marrow biopsies, the current standard for assessing risk and monitoring genetic changes, can be painful and yield unclear results from techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), affecting risk evaluations and treatment decisions.