Guidelines for HER2 testing

Public Archive
1

Hi

I’ve been Googling, but am only coming up with documents from approx. 2003-2005, none of them coming from NICE. Does anyone know if there are any official NICE guidelines as to how HER2 should be tested via pathology? I’ve seen info on the Cancer Backup site that mention UK testing guidelines, but don’t know how official this is. Did NICE set these guidelines?

This probably sounds like a bizarre question but relates to a complaint I’ve made. Checking this info may be a waste of time - just not sure yet!

Thanks

Gill

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Hi Gillian

If you give the helpline a ring they may be able to help you with this one. Calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000 open Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm and Sat 9am - 2pm

Kind regards
Jo, Facilitator

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Thanks Jo

I really appreciate that and will give the helpline a call tomorrow.

Gill

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There doesn’t seem to be anything particular on the NICE website about this.

The guideline writers are medical experts. There is an free e-print of a previous set of guidelines “Updated recommendations for HER2 testing in the UK” from 2004. If you stick that in google and look out for the webpage that starts eprints, you should find it. It says that “NICE has referred to the need to adhere to our published guidelines…,” but it is not clear how strong the recommendation is. The article “BEST PRACTICE HER2 testing in the UK: further update to recommendations” R A Walker1, J M S Bartlett2, M Dowsett3, I O Ellis4, A M Hanby5, B Jasani6, K Miller7 and S E Pinder in the Journal of Clinical Pathology 2008 is the latest set of guidelines, but one of those articles that is not free to access.

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Christine, thank you so much! I read the 2004 article and decided that it was worth paying for the updated version. This is exactly what I was looking for.

I’ve printed it off and will be reading it properly later.

I imagine that as a guideline/recommendation, good practice is important to take into account.

Many thanks!

Gill

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Hi Gillian,

I am glad that the 2008 article was what you were looking for. It is rather annoying that the guidelines aren’t available for free. I hope the 2008 article met your expectations.

Best wishes,

Christine