Flaw in breast and ovarian cancer tests: concern over 100 false negative results

The Ministry of Health announced a malfunction in a genetic carrier test for the BRCA1 gene, used to detect risk for breast and ovarian cancer, performed using a kit from the company Gamidor. There is concern over 100 false negative results out of more than 90,000 tests. The company has corrected the malfunction, and genetic institutes will contact the relevant examinees.

The Ministry of Health announced today (Tuesday) a malfunction in a genetic carrier test for the BRCA1 gene, used to detect an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer. The malfunction was discovered in a kit from the company Gamidor, raising concern over 100 false negative results out of more than 90,000 tests performed. A false negative result means that an existing carrier status was not identified. Upon learning of the malfunction, Gamidor, together with genetic institutes and laboratories, located the 100 suspected samples, and the company corrected the malfunction. The Ministry of Health clarified that in the coming days, the genetic institutes will contact the relevant examinees and invite them to provide an additional blood sample if necessary. It was also stated that there is no need for all examinees to contact the laboratory. The current malfunction comes after in October 2025, the Ministry of Health opened an investigation into a suspected malfunction in the same kit, after two women who received a negative result were later found to be carriers of mutations in the BRCA genes. Mutations in these genes can increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.