Mainstream genetic testing - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Mainstream genetic testing is a clinical pathway where cancer specialists request genetic testing for their patients directly with support from a Familial Cancer Centre. The Parkville Familial Cancer Centre operates mainstream genetic testing programs at participating hospitals for eligible breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer patients. Cancer specialists at these hospitals are strongly encouraged to watch the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre mainstream training videos before requesting mainstream genetic testing for eligible patients. To find out if a Parkville Familial Cancer Centre mainstream program is available where you work, watch the mainstream training video titled ‘Mainstream genetic testing overview’ below, or contact the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre mainstream team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you are a cancer specialist already trained in the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre mainstream genetic testing programs and you work at a participating hospital, you can access the mainstream e-consent forms and mainstream resources below.

If you are a cancer specialist working at a site that does not have access to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre’s mainstream genetic testing program, you can learn more about how to facilitate genetic testing for your cancer patients through an eLearning program housed on EviQ and collated by the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia.

Mainstream training videos

To learn more about mainstream genetic testing, and how to request genetic testing through the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre mainstream programs, watch the training videos below. Each video is around 3-7 minutes long.

If you work at a participating hospital and plan to offer mainstream genetic testing to your patients after watching the training videos, it is also essential that you contact the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre mainstream team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name, email, speciality and hospital location, so that they can add you to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre and Peter Mac laboratory approved list of mainstream clinicians.

Mainstream genetic testing overview

Mainstream gene panels

Mainstream eligibility criteria

Manchester scoring system

Consenting the patient to mainstream genetic testing

Ordering a mainstream genetic test

Disclosing the mainstream genetic testing result

Mainstream e-consent form

For ease of use, cancer specialists can use a mainstream e-consent form for breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer patients who are undergoing mainstream genetic testing. The e-consent forms are housed securely on REDCap, and can be accessed using the relevant link (NOTE: save the webpage to favourites in your browser, so you can easily navigate to the page for future mainstream patients):

Once you have completed and submitted the e-consent with your patient, it is automatically emailed to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre. Please note, using this e-consent form is optional, and we will still accept the completed static version of the consent form if you prefer.

How to use the mainstream e-consent form

Complete the e-consent with your patient; you and your patient can sign the e-consent using the computer mouse or your finger if using a smart phone/tablet.
Once completed, click the ‘submit’ button at the bottom of the page.
Review your consent form and then click ‘submit’.
The completed consent/referral will automatically be emailed directly to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre.
You can choose to download a copy of the completed consent form for the patient’s personal or hospital record if preferred.

Breast mainstream resources

There are a number of resources available for use within the breast mainstream program including a static patient consent form, and a patient information sheet. Browse and download the resources below.

Breast mainstream static consent form

This is a static version of the breast mainstream patient consent form; alternatively, you can use the e-consent form with your patient which will automatically be sent to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre, if easier. If you do use the static form, please email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. once complete.

Download the Breast mainstream static consent form

Breast mainstream information sheet for patients

Manchester score sheet

This website allows you to calculate if a breast cancer patient meets the 10% probability of having a pathogenic variant in a breast cancer predisposition gene, using their personal and family history of cancer. If the breast cancer patient scores 15 or more, they meet the 10% probability, and therefore can have a Medicare funded genetic test.

Access the Manchester scoring system

How to order a mainstream test in Epic

How to order a breast mainstream test (sites external to Parkville)

Mainstream clinicians frequently asked questions information sheet

Genetic testing and insurance factsheet for patients

Breast mainstream clinical pathway

Ovarian mainstream resources

There are a number of resources available for use within the ovarian mainstream program including a static patient consent form, and a patient information sheet. Browse and download the resources below.

Ovarian mainstream static consent form

This is a static version of the ovarian mainstream patient consent form; alternatively, you can use the e-consent form with your patient which will automatically be sent to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre, if easier. If you do use the static form, please email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. once complete.

Download the Ovarian mainstream static consent form

Ovarian mainstream information sheet for patients

How to order a mainstream test in Epic

Ovarian mainstream pathology slip (to be used by mainstream clinicians outside of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Royal Women’s Hospital)

This pathology slip should be completed and issued to ovarian mainstream patients for blood collection, when they are seen outside of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital or Royal Women’s Hospital (if you are seeing patients at one of these sites, see above for a factsheet on how to order mainstream testing in Epic).

Download the Ovarian mainstream pathology slip (for sites external to Parkville)

Mainstream clinicians frequently asked questions information sheet

Genetic testing and insurance factsheet for patients

Pancreas mainstream resources

The pancreas mainstream program currently operates at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Western Health. There are a number of resources available for use within the pancreas mainstream program including a static patient consent form, and a patient information sheet. Browse and download the resources below.

Pancreas mainstream static consent form

This is a static version of the pancreas mainstream patient consent form; alternatively, you can use the e-consent form with your patient which will automatically be sent to the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre, if easier. If you do use the static form, please email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. once complete.

Download the Pancreas mainstream static consent form

Pancreas mainstream information sheet for patients

How to order a mainstream test in Epic (for mainstream clinicians working at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre)

How to order a pancreas mainstream test for mainstream clinicians working at Western Health

Genetic testing and insurance factsheet for patients

Mainstream clinicians frequently asked questions information sheet

Pancreas mainstream clinical pathway