Discontinuation of Genetic Testing for Chronic Idiopathic Pancreatitis

Following a recent review, PathWest will discontinue genetic testing for chronic idiopathic pancreatitis (CIP) from 03 June 2025.

This decision follows a clinical and operational review which identified:

• CIP testing is not supported by Medicare.
• Current CIP testing has limited clinical utility in comparison to the international benchmark: Low
• diagnostic yield of less than 10% compared to 20 to 30% (PMID: 39172977).
  Broader and more comprehensive hereditary pancreatitis testing is available internationally through
  other providers. These include:

• Canterbury Health Laboratories (NZ) – PRSS1, SPINK1, CFTR, CELA3B
• ARUP Laboratories (USA) – CFTR, CTRC, PRSS1, SPINK1
• Prevention Genetics (USA) – CASR, CFTR, CPA1, CTRC, PRSS1, SPINK1, TRPV6
• Blueprint Genetics (USA) – APOA5, APOC2, CFTR, CPA1, CTRC, GPIHBP1, PRSS1, SPINK1, UBR1

We appreciate your understanding, and we are happy to discuss any aspect of this with you including referral guidance.

Contact for more information

PathWest Diagnostic Genomics
E: DiagnosticGenomicsQE.PathWest@health.wa.gov.au
T: (08)6383 4234