Biocept, Inc. has received a positive final Local Coverage Determination (LCD) that expands Medicare coverage for use of its Target Selector assay to identify the HER2 biomarker from circulating tumor cells (CTCs). This coverage determination from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Molecular Diagnostics Program (MolDx) was effective July 4, 2021. About 20% of breast cancers are HER2-positive, with metastatic cancers more likely to be HER2-positive and approximately 20% of HER2-positive patients experiencing recurrence each year. Given the efficacy of various anti-HER2 therapies, testing for HER2 is one of the most important sources of information used by oncologists in making treatment decisions for patients with breast cancer. As a result, guidelines for breast cancer recommend that all patients with new primary or newly metastatic breast cancer be tested for HER2. Traditionally, testing has been performed using tissue. However, adequate tissue from the original biopsy may not be available, and additional invasive biopsy procedures are often impractical and associated with complications. The MolDx program was developed by CMS to identify and establish coverage and reimbursement for molecular diagnostic tests. To receive a favorable MolDx coverage determination, assays must demonstrate clinical utility, fulfill the CMS reasonable and necessary criteria, and meet analytical and clinical validity standards. Biocept’s combined cell-based and cell-free liquid biopsy tests assess actionable cancer biomarkers from a patient’s blood and, uniquely, from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well. Following the full commercial launch of its CSF assay, CNSide, Biocept submitted an initial application for Breakthrough Device Designation to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the initial submission was recently denied, the company continues to pursue Breakthrough Device Designation for CNSide and is gathering data based on the feedback provided by the FDA to further support its submission. The test is currently marketed as a Lab Developed Test (LDT) in Biocept’s CLIA certified and CAP accredited lab. CNSide is designed to improve the clinical management of patients with suspected metastatic cancer involving the central nervous system. The company also continues to provide COVID-19 testing services to help manage the impact of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, schools and other public facilities it serves. Biocept has received more than 450,000 samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing since launching this service in June 2020. The samples are processed using Biocept’s RT-PCR-based technology at its CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited, high-complexity molecular laboratory in San Diego.