Medical Oncologist
Biomarker & Molecular Testing
Single-Gene Test or Full Panel? — How to Choose Without Wasting Money
Choosing between a single-gene test and a full NGS panel is one of the first practical decisions after a diagnosis. The right answer depends on your cancer type, how much tissue is available, and how many treatment options your oncologist is weighing.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Not interchangeable — A single-gene test tells you about one marker. A panel tells you about many at once. They answer different questions.
- Order can matter — Starting with a single-gene test and then needing a panel later means two turnarounds and two draws on your biopsy sample.
- Tissue is the constraint — A small biopsy may not yield enough DNA for a full panel. Your pathologist's assessment of the sample decides what is possible.
- Your oncologist drives this — The test your team orders is based on your cancer type and the treatment question. Ask them to explain the reasoning.
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)
(800+ reviews)
The right test depends on your cancer type, how much tissue you have, and how urgently you need the result. A single-gene test is faster and costs less but tells you about one marker only. A full-panel NGS test covers many targets in one run — more useful when treatment options depend on multiple results.
What is the actual difference between a single-gene test and an NGS panel?
| Feature | Single-Gene Test | NGS Panel (Comprehensive) |
|---|---|---|
| What it tests | One specific gene or mutation | Dozens to hundreds of genes in a single run |
| Turnaround | Faster — result available sooner | Longer — processing many targets takes more time |
| Relative cost | Lower upfront cost | Higher cost — but covers far more ground at once |
| Tissue needed | A smaller or older sample can often be used | More DNA required; a very small biopsy may not be sufficient |
| Type of result | One clear answer about one marker | A broad molecular profile — may include variants of uncertain significance |
| Best suited when | One specific marker is driving the next treatment decision | Multiple treatment pathways are possible, or the relevant marker is unknown |
When does a single-gene test make the better choice?
- Your oncologist has named the specific gene they need tested — for example, EGFR in lung cancer or BRAF in melanoma.
- One treatment decision is waiting on that one result, and nothing else changes either way.
- You need a result quickly and the shorter turnaround matters for your treatment timeline.
- Your biopsy sample is small — the pathologist has advised there may not be enough DNA for a full panel.
- You have already had an NGS panel and your team needs to confirm or retest one specific variant.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
You do not have to work this out alone
A 45-minute consultation with a specialist who treats this every week.
When does a full NGS panel make more sense than a single-gene test?
A panel is more useful when your oncologist cannot yet identify a single driving mutation — either because multiple pathways may be relevant, or because the standard markers for your cancer have already been excluded.
For cancer types where targeted treatments have been approved across several different genes — certain lung cancers, for example — a panel avoids a sequence of single tests, each using time and tissue.
If a clinical trial is being considered, many eligibility criteria require a specific panel result. Starting with a single-gene test may mean returning to a panel later, on a sample that has already been used.
Does it matter which test you do first?
It can. Starting with a single-gene test and needing a full panel later means two separate turnaround periods and two draws on your biopsy sample. For some patients, the sample is not large enough to support both.
Ask your oncologist whether the decision you face today can be fully resolved by one gene result — or whether additional markers will be needed regardless within the next few months.
If more markers will eventually be needed, a panel ordered now may be both faster and less invasive than two sequential tests.
Explore 119 more Targeted Therapy Basics, Testing & Your Cancer Type topics
Biomarker & Molecular Testing
- Can Mutation Testing Be Done on an Old Biopsy Block or Slides?
- Cost of NGS and Mutation Testing in India: 2026 Price Guide
- Do I Need Genetic Testing Before Starting Targeted Therapy?
- Germline vs Somatic Testing: The Difference Nobody Explains Properly
- Getting a Second Opinion on Your Genomic Report
- How Long Do Mutation Test Results Take in India? Realistic Timelines
- How to Read Your Molecular Pathology Report, Line by Line
- IHC, FISH, PCR or NGS: Which Mutation Test Is Right for Your Cancer?
- Is Mutation Testing Worth It If I Can't Afford the Drug?
- Liquid Biopsy vs Tissue Biopsy: Which Test Do You Need?
- My Report Says a Mutation Is 'Actionable': What Does That Mean?
- No Mutation Found in My Report: What Are My Options Now?
- Should I Start Chemotherapy While Waiting for Mutation Results?
- Should You Repeat Molecular Testing After Your Cancer Progresses?
- Single-Gene Test or Full Panel? How to Choose Without Wasting Money
- What Are PD-L1, TMB and MSI, and Do They Affect Targeted Therapy?
- What Does 'Variant of Uncertain Significance' (VUS) Mean?
- What Happens If There Isn't Enough Tissue for Mutation Testing?
- What Is NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) Testing in Cancer?
- What Is a Molecular Tumour Board and Why Should You Want One?
- Which Cancers Should Always Be Tested for Mutations? A Checklist
- ctDNA and MRD Testing: Tracking Cancer Through a Blood Test
Before You Start - Preparation & Baseline
- 25 Questions to Ask Your Oncologist Before Starting Targeted Therapy
- Before You Start Targeted Therapy: The Complete Preparation Checklist
- Dental Check-Up Before Cancer Treatment: Why It Matters
- Financial Planning Before Starting Long-Term Targeted Therapy
- How Long After Surgery Can You Start Targeted Therapy?
- How to Store Your Targeted Therapy Tablets Correctly
- Setting Up a Dosing Routine You Won't Forget
- Should Targeted Therapy Be Taken With Food or on an Empty Stomach?
- Vaccinations Before and During Cancer Treatment
- What to Expect in Your First Month on Targeted Therapy
- Which Baseline Tests Are Done Before Starting a TKI?
- Which of Your Existing Medicines Must Stop Before Targeted Therapy
- Why You Need an ECHO and ECG Before Certain Cancer Drugs
Cancer-Type Specific Targeted Therapy
- CML Treatment with TKIs: Living a Normal Life Span
- Cancer of Unknown Primary: Can Molecular Testing Help?
- GIST Treatment: Why This Cancer Changed Targeted Therapy Forever
- Targeted Therapy for Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)
- Targeted Therapy for Bladder and Urothelial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Brain Tumours and Glioma
- Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer: HER2, HR+ and Triple Negative
- Targeted Therapy for CLL and Lymphoma
- Targeted Therapy for Cervical and Endometrial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancers
- Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer: RAS, BRAF and HER2
- Targeted Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer (RCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer (HCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer: Every Mutation and Drug Explained
- Targeted Therapy for Melanoma: BRAF and MEK Inhibitors
- Targeted Therapy for Multiple Myeloma
- Targeted Therapy for Neuroendocrine Tumours
- Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer: PARP Inhibitors and Beyond
- Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Limited but Real Options
- Targeted Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Sarcoma
- Targeted Therapy for Stomach and Gastroesophageal Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
- Targeted Therapy in AML: Beyond Standard Chemotherapy
- Tumour-Agnostic Drugs: When the Mutation Matters More Than the Organ
Foundations & How Targeted Therapy Works
- Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Targeted Therapy: Treatment Before or After Surgery
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs): The Smart Bombs of Cancer Treatment
- Biosimilars and Generic Targeted Therapy Drugs: What They Are
- Can Targeted Therapy Be Combined with Chemotherapy or Radiation?
- Can Targeted Therapy Cure Cancer? An Honest Answer
- First-Line, Second-Line and Beyond: How Treatment Lines Work
- How Doctors Decide Between Chemo, Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
- How Does Targeted Therapy Actually Work? Explained Without Jargon
- How Long Does Targeted Therapy Take to Start Working?
- Is Targeted Therapy Painful? What the Treatment Actually Feels Like
- Is Targeted Therapy a Type of Chemotherapy? Clearing Up the Confusion
- Oral Tablets vs IV Infusion Targeted Therapy: What's the Difference?
- Precision Oncology vs Personalised Medicine: Are They the Same Thing?
- Targeted Therapy Success Rates: What the Numbers Really Mean
- Targeted Therapy for Stage 4 Cancer: What You Can Realistically Expect
- Targeted Therapy vs Chemotherapy: 12 Differences That Actually Matter
- Targeted Therapy vs Immunotherapy: Which One Is Right for You?
- The 8 Main Types of Targeted Therapy Drugs (With Examples)
- What Do Cancer Drug Endings Like -nib, -mab and -tinib Mean?
- What Is Targeted Therapy for Cancer? A Complete Patient Guide
- Which Cancers Can Be Treated with Targeted Therapy? Full List
- Why Didn't My Doctor Recommend Targeted Therapy for Me?
Mutation & Target-Specific Pages
- ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Drugs, Response and What Comes Next
- Antiangiogenic Drugs (VEGF Inhibitors): How Starving a Tumour Works
- BCR-ABL and the Philadelphia Chromosome in CML
- BRAF V600E Mutation: Targeted Therapy Across Multiple Cancers
- BRCA vs HRD Testing: Which One Determines PARP Inhibitor Eligibility?
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Cancer Treatment: PARP Inhibitors
- BTK Inhibitors in CLL and Lymphoma
- CD20, CD38 and Other Antibody Targets in Blood Cancers
- CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer
- Co-Mutations: When You Have Two Mutations at Once
- EGFR Exon 20 Insertion: Why It's Different and Harder to Treat
- EGFR Mutation in Lung Cancer: Complete Patient Guide
- ESR1 Mutation: Why Your Hormone Therapy Stopped Working
- FGFR Alterations in Bladder and Bile Duct Cancer
- FLT3 Mutation in AML: What It Means for Your Prognosis
- HER2 Mutation in Lung and Gastric Cancer
- HER2-Low Breast Cancer: A New Category That Changes Treatment
- HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: The Full Targeted Therapy Roadmap
- IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations in Glioma, AML and Bile Duct Cancer
- KIT and PDGFRA Mutations in GIST
- KRAS G12C Mutation: The Target That Was Undruggable for 40 Years
- KRAS Mutation but Not G12C: What Are My Options?
- MET Exon 14 Skipping and MET Amplification Explained
- MSI-High and Mismatch Repair Deficiency: Testing and Treatment
- NRG1, MET, RET and Other Rare Fusions: Where to Get Tested
- NTRK Fusion: One Drug for Many Different Cancers
- Osimertinib: What to Expect, Side Effects and How Long It Works
- PALB2, ATM and Other BRCA-Like Genes: Do They Get the Same Drugs?
- PIK3CA Mutation in Breast Cancer: Alpelisib and What to Expect
- PSMA and AR-Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer
- RET Fusion Cancer: Lung, Thyroid and Beyond
- ROS1-Positive Cancer: A Rare Mutation with Excellent Options
- TP53 Mutation: Why There's Still No Targeted Drug for It
- Understanding Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) in Your Report
- What If My Mutation Has No Approved Drug Yet?
- mTOR Inhibitors in Cancer: Everolimus and Temsirolimus
Next step
Still not sure what applies to you?
Send your reports across and a senior medical oncologist will go through what they mean, what is known, and what the options actually are.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip the single-gene test and go straight to NGS?
Yes, in many situations. If your oncologist is weighing several treatment options, or if your cancer type is one where multiple markers are routinely tested, a panel may be the more efficient first step. The decision belongs to your team, who can weigh your cancer type, sample quality, and the questions that need to be answered before treatment starts. Ask directly: which test will give you everything you need, and is there a reason to do them in stages?
What if my biopsy sample is too small for an NGS panel?
This is one of the most common practical constraints. Your pathologist will assess the sample and estimate how much DNA is available. If a full panel is not possible, your team may consider a targeted single-gene test on the smaller sample, a repeat biopsy, or a liquid biopsy from blood. None of these is automatically inferior — each is adapted to what the sample can support. Ask your team which option they recommend and why.
Is one test more accurate than the other?
Both use validated laboratory methods — the difference is scope, not accuracy. A single-gene test is highly sensitive for the one variant it is designed to detect. An NGS panel is designed to detect variants across many genes simultaneously. If a variant falls outside the panel's gene list, the panel will not find it. Accuracy questions are therefore about choosing the right test for the right question, not about one method being inherently better.
Can I do NGS later if I start with a single-gene test?
Yes, but whether your original biopsy sample can support it is the practical question. Laboratory processing uses tissue, and some samples — particularly core needle biopsies — are small to begin with. If you think you may eventually want a panel, raise it before the sample is used. Your pathologist can assess in advance what the block will support and advise whether sequencing the tests is feasible.
How do I know which genes my oncologist is looking for?
Ask them directly: which marker is this test looking for, and how will the result change what you recommend? You are entitled to understand the clinical reasoning. In most cancer types, the markers that matter most for treatment decisions are well established — EGFR and ALK in certain lung cancers, BRCA in ovarian and breast cancer, MSI in colorectal cancer, for example. Your oncologist can tell you which ones are relevant to yours.
Does CION conduct the testing itself?
Biomarker testing at CION is coordinated through accredited partner laboratories. Your oncologist orders the test, your tissue or blood sample is sent to the laboratory, and the result returns to your team and becomes part of your treatment planning conversation. CION does not own or operate the laboratories directly. If you want to know which laboratory will process your sample and how long the result is expected to take, ask your care team at the time of ordering.