According to Prof Graham Taylor, head of genomic services at Cancer Research UK's, the new test for hereditary breast cancer developed, basically focuses on smaller area of the gene code, reducing costs up to 99 per cent. Test will now, cost just £10 from early next year, besides slashing the waiting time for the results to one week.

On an average, one in every 20 women with breast cancer, carries cancer-causing mutations in two genes namely, BRCA1 AND BRCA. Presently, test for cancer causing changes in two specific genes is expensive and time consuming (18 weeks). Dr Sarah Rawlings, of policy at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, appreciated the new test.

Professor Taylor, will submit a report about new test, at the annual meeting of the British Society for Human Genetics, at the University of York. But he stressed, till we aren’t sure about its accuracy, we must rely on conventional methods for final clinical diagnosis.

Professor Marcus Pembrey, chairman of the genetics charity Progress Educational Trust, made it clear that we should welcome cheaper, accurate genetic testing, but that doesn't mean to reduce the need for counseling.