Genetix by Cancer Research Malaysia is an integrated genetic counselling and clinical genetic testing service operated by CRMY Technologies Sdn. Bhd., the commercial arm of Cancer Research Malaysia.
It supports individuals and families who want to understand inherited health risks, consider appropriate genetic testing, and interpret their results with professional guidance.
Genetix provides pre-test genetic counselling, genetic risk assessment, test selection support, sample and laboratory coordination, post-test counselling, result interpretation, and guidance on possible next steps.
The service supports cancer genetics and selected non-oncology genetic indications, depending on the clinical question and the tests currently available.
The service is delivered by a multidisciplinary Genetix team that includes genetic counsellors and is supported by a consultant clinical geneticist. The team works with treating clinicians and accredited testing laboratories when genetic testing is appropriate.
The team draws on more than 20 years of cancer genetics and genetic counselling research, more than 25 years of combined counselling experience, and experience counselling more than 2,500 patients globally.
The service has supported more than 10 hospitals across Malaysia.
No. Genetix supports people who have a diagnosis as well as people who are currently unaffected but have a concerning family history, a known genetic finding in the family, or questions about inherited health risks.
A genetic counsellor can help determine whether counselling or testing is likely to be useful.
Genetic counselling is a structured conversation about how genetic conditions may affect you or your biological relatives.
A genetic counsellor reviews your personal and family history, discusses possible testing options, including the benefits and limitations of testing, helps you make an informed decision, and interprets the result in the context of your circumstances.
No. Genetic counselling is the process of understanding your risk, options and possible results. Genetic testing is a laboratory analysis of DNA.
You may attend genetic counselling and decide not to proceed with testing. Counselling can still be useful even when no test is ordered.
You may benefit from genetic counselling if you or a close relative had cancer at a young age, one person had more than one primary cancer, several relatives on the same side of the family had related cancers, a rare cancer occurred in the family, a relative has a known disease-causing genetic variant, or a clinician has recommended a genetic assessment.
Other non-cancer conditions may also warrant referral.
No. Most cancers are not caused by an inherited genetic change.
Approximately 5% to 10% of cancers are thought to result from specific genetic changes (variant) inherited from a parent. Other cancers develop through a combination of ageing, environmental exposures, infections, lifestyle factors and genetic changes acquired during a person’s lifetime.
Hereditary cancer is a type of cancer that occurs due to specific inherited genetic changes (variant). The genetic change can be passed from parent to child, but cancer itself is not inherited.
Carrying an inherited genetic variant does not mean that cancer will definitely occur. It means the person’s risk of developing cancer may be higher than average.
Yes. Inherited genetic changes can come from either biological parent. Cancer and health information from both the maternal and paternal sides of the family should be considered during genetic risk assessment.
Where possible, prepare information about biological relatives on both sides of the family, including the type of cancer or condition, age at diagnosis, whether anyone had more than one cancer, and whether anyone previously had genetic testing.
Copies of genetic reports, pathology reports or relevant medical records are helpful, but it is acceptable if some information is unavailable.
No. You may contact Genetix directly. Healthcare providers can also refer patients through the Genetix oncology or non-oncology referral pathways.
A referral and supporting medical records may help the team understand the clinical question, but they are not required for an initial enquiry.
The service follows four main steps: schedule an appointment, understand your personal and family risk, make an informed decision about whether to proceed with testing, and interpret the result with a genetic counsellor.
The team can coordinate the selected test and sample collection when testing is appropriate.
Genetic testing examines a DNA sample to look for specific genetic changes that may be associated with an inherited condition or increased disease risk. The genes analysed and the testing method depend on your personal history, family history and the purpose of testing.
Most inherited genetic tests use a blood or saliva sample. The appropriate sample depends on the selected test and laboratory requirements.
The Genetix team will explain the collection process and coordinate the required logistics before testing.
Yes. Genetic counselling supports informed decision-making and does not require you to undergo genetic testing. You may decide to proceed, postpone testing or decline testing after discussing the potential benefits, limitations, costs and implications.
The Genetix team considers the clinical indication, your personal and family history, previous genetic or tumour results, and the question the test is intended to answer.
A focused test, condition-specific panel or broader multigene panel may be considered. The counsellor will explain why a particular option may or may not be suitable.
Turnaround time depends on the test, sample, laboratory and whether additional analysis is required. Many genetic tests take several weeks.
Genetix will provide an estimated timeframe before testing. Urgent clinical timelines should be raised early, but an expedited result should not be assumed until the laboratory confirms it.
Fees depend on the counselling service, test type, number of genes analysed, laboratory and sample requirements.
Genetix will explain the available options and provide the applicable fee before you proceed. Patients should check directly with their insurer, employer or sponsoring programme regarding possible coverage or reimbursement.
Yes. Genetix offers remote genetic counselling, sometimes called TeleGC, and face-to-face sessions, subject to availability and clinical suitability. Remote appointments allow patients outside the immediate area to access counselling without travelling to the centre.
The multilingual team provides support in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil and Iban, subject to staff availability.
Please state your preferred language when arranging the appointment.
CRMY Technologies is located at Level 1, Subang Jaya Medical Centre, South Tower, Selangor, Malaysia. You may submit an enquiry through the website contact form, WhatsApp +60 12-264 3894, or email gc@ctsb.my.
Genetix handles personal and genetic information according to its consent and privacy procedures and applicable Malaysian data protection requirements, including the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and applicable amendments. Information may be shared with authorised healthcare professionals, laboratories or service providers involved in delivering the requested service, as explained in the relevant consent and privacy documents.
Genetix does not routinely share your genetic results with employers, insurers or relatives without your permission, except where disclosure is required or permitted by law. You should independently review any insurance application, policy or legal disclosure obligations. A genetic counsellor can discuss general considerations but does not provide legal or insurance advice.
Results commonly include: a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant, meaning a disease-causing or likely disease-causing change was found; a negative result, meaning no disease-causing variant was identified in the genes analysed; or a variant of uncertain significance, meaning there is not yet enough evidence to know whether the change is harmful.
A positive result means a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant was identified. Depending on the gene and condition, the result may help explain a personal or family history, indicate increased risk, inform screening or risk-reduction discussions, influence treatment in some situations, and identify biological relatives who may benefit from targeted testing. It does not necessarily mean that you currently have, or will definitely develop, the condition.
A negative result means that the test did not identify a disease-causing variant in the genes analysed. Its meaning depends on the situation. A negative result for a known family variant can be reassuring, but a negative result when no family variant is known may not fully explain a strong family history. Screening may still be recommended based on personal and family risk.
A VUS is a genetic change for which current evidence is insufficient to determine whether it causes disease. A VUS is not the same as a positive result and should generally not be used alone to make major medical decisions or to test relatives predictively. Many VUS findings are later reclassified as more evidence becomes available.
Usually, no. For many conditions, genetic testing estimates risk rather than providing certainty. Health outcomes can also be influenced by age, lifestyle, environmental exposure, other genes and medical history. Your genetic counsellor and treating clinician will interpret the result together with these factors.
In some cancers, an inherited genetic result may influence discussions about medicines, surgery, surveillance or clinical trials. However, inherited genetic testing is different from tumour biomarker testing, and not every result changes treatment. Treatment decisions remain the responsibility of the treating specialist using all relevant clinical information.
Inherited, or germline, testing usually uses blood or saliva to look for genetic changes that may have been present since birth and may be passed through a family.
Tumour testing examines cancer cells for changes that developed in the tumour and may help guide treatment. A tumour finding may sometimes indicate that separate germline testing should be considered.
Yes, when appropriate. If a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant is identified, biological relatives may be offered targeted testing for that specific family variant. This is called cascade testing. Not every family member automatically needs a broad panel, and a genetic counsellor can identify which relatives are most likely to benefit.
Where possible, testing usually begins with a relative who has had the cancer or medical condition of concern. Testing an affected person first is more likely to clarify whether a hereditary condition is present. If no affected relative is available, the counsellor can explain the limitations of testing an unaffected person.
It depends on the condition. Testing may be considered when the result could change medical care during childhood. For genetic risks that mainly affect adults, testing is commonly postponed until the individual is old enough to make an informed decision. The counsellor and relevant specialist will consider the child’s age, condition and available preventive care.
A genetic counsellor will explain the result, its limitations, possible health implications and what it may mean for biological relatives.
You may be referred back to your treating clinician to discuss screening, treatment or risk-management options. Genetix can also support family communication and appropriate cascade testing.
No. Genetic counselling provides risk assessment, education, decision support and interpretation of genetic information.
It does not replace diagnosis, treatment or medical management by your doctor or specialist. Always discuss screening and treatment decisions with the appropriate healthcare professional.
Referral may be considered for early-onset cancer, multiple primary cancers, rare cancers associated with hereditary syndromes, bilateral disease, several relatives with related cancers, a known familial pathogenic variant, a tumour finding that may indicate a germline variant, or another clinical concern about an inherited condition. Genetix also provides a separate pathway for selected non-oncology referrals.
Complete our streamlined referral form or scan the QR code. We require minimal details to initiate the process without disrupting your clinical workflow.
The Genetix team contacts the patient directly within three working days. The team then gathers a more complete family history and provides pre-test counselling through TeleGC or a face-to-face appointment. The referring clinician remains informed as the patient progresses through the pathway, subject to consent.
Pre-test counselling covers the clinical indication, inheritance, available tests, potential benefits and limitations, possible result categories, family implications and informed consent. Post-test counselling explains the result, limitations, implications for management and relatives, and appropriate next steps. The treating clinician remains responsible for diagnosis and medical management.
Test selection is based on the clinical indication, tumour type where relevant, age at diagnosis, personal and family history, previous tumour or germline results, and the intended use of the result. The team may consider a focused familial-variant test, condition-specific panel or broader multigene panel.
Genetix coordinates testing panels through CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratories based on clinical necessity. Because laboratories and test menus can change, the specific laboratory, accreditation status, methodology and report scope should be confirmed for each ordered test.
Genetix coordinates blood or saliva sample collection, relevant documentation and laboratory logistics. Sample type and collection requirements depend on the selected test. Clinicians should flag urgent treatment or surgical timelines at referral so that feasibility and turnaround time can be assessed.
After post-test counselling, Genetix provides the patient and, with appropriate consent, the referring clinician with the relevant laboratory report and interpretation. The patient is referred back to the treating clinician for treatment, surveillance and risk-management decisions. The report should be interpreted alongside the patient’s phenotype, family history and other clinical findings.
In selected cancers, a pathogenic germline result may influence treatment, surgical or surveillance discussions. Germline testing should not be confused with tumour biomarker testing, which answers a different question. A tumour finding may require confirmation in a germline sample, and treatment decisions remain with the treating oncology team.
A VUS should generally not be used alone to guide major treatment, preventive surgery or predictive testing of relatives. Management should remain based on the patient’s personal history, family history, established clinical findings and relevant guidelines. Reassessment may be appropriate if the laboratory later reclassifies the variant.
Turnaround time varies by laboratory, test and sample. Genetix will provide an estimate before testing. Urgent medical decisions should be identified at referral. An expedited service may be available for selected tests, but timing must be confirmed and should not be promised until the laboratory accepts the request.
Yes. When a pathogenic or likely pathogenic familial variant is identified, Genetix can provide counselling and coordinate targeted testing for eligible biological relatives. A copy of the original report or precise familial variant details should be supplied to ensure the correct variant is tested.
Patients should receive information about the purpose and scope of testing, result categories, limitations, family implications, sample and data use, laboratory involvement, and how results may be shared. Personal data is handled according to Genetix procedures and applicable Malaysian requirements, including the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and applicable amendments.
Genetix can support referral pathways, patient outreach, pre-test and post-test counselling, test coordination, family cascade testing, clinician education and institution-specific workflows. The service scope, referral responsibilities, reporting arrangements, fees and turnaround expectations should be agreed before implementation. Institutions may use the website enquiry or quote pathway to begin a discussion.
Disclaimer: The information in this FAQ is provided for general education and should not be treated as medical advice, diagnosis or a recommendation for a particular genetic test. The suitability of genetic counselling or testing depends on each person’s medical history, family history and circumstances. Patients should discuss screening, treatment and risk-management decisions with their treating healthcare professionals. Test availability, laboratory partners, prices, turnaround times, appointment modes and service coverage may change. Please contact Genetix for the latest information before making a decision.
