SALT LAKE CITY, July 20, 2026
ARUP Laboratories has introduced ARUP CLARISPECT™ Multiple Myeloma MRD by Spectral Flow Cytometry, becoming the first large reference laboratory in the United States to offer clinical spectral flow cytometry for minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment in multiple myeloma. The launch marks a significant advancement in precision diagnostics, enabling laboratories and clinicians to detect extremely small populations of residual cancer cells with greater sensitivity and confidence than conventional flow cytometry. Designed to improve treatment monitoring, disease prognostication, and relapse detection, the innovative assay represents a major milestone in the evolution of hematologic cancer diagnostics. By leveraging advanced spectral flow cytometry technology, ARUP aims to enhance clinical decision-making while requiring less specimen volume, making the test especially valuable for difficult-to-obtain bone marrow samples and reinforcing the growing role of high-sensitivity laboratory diagnostics in personalized oncology care.
Clinical Spectral Flow Cytometry Improves MRD Detection
The newly launched ARUP CLARISPECT™ Multiple Myeloma MRD assay utilizes spectral flow cytometry, an advanced diagnostic platform capable of capturing the entire light emission spectrum from fluorescent markers. Unlike conventional flow cytometry, which has more limited marker detection capabilities, the new technology evaluates 18 biomarkers simultaneously within a single testing tube, allowing more comprehensive characterization of small neoplastic cell populations. According to ARUP experts, the assay provides significantly improved sensitivity, enabling the detection of as few as 14 neoplastic cells among 5 million analyzed cells with 95% confidence. This enhanced analytical performance allows clinicians to identify minimal residual disease at extremely low levels, supporting earlier recognition of disease persistence or recurrence. The single-tube design also reduces specimen requirements, an important advantage for patients undergoing repeated bone marrow evaluations while minimizing sample consumption and improving laboratory workflow efficiency.
Advancing Precision Medicine for Multiple Myeloma Care
Multiple myeloma, a cancer affecting plasma cells responsible for antibody production, continues to present major clinical challenges despite advances in targeted therapies. MRD assessment has become an increasingly important biomarker for evaluating treatment response, predicting long-term outcomes, and guiding therapeutic strategies. Patients who remain MRD positive after treatment generally face a higher risk of relapse, making highly sensitive detection methods essential for optimizing care. ARUP officials emphasize that the improved performance of spectral flow cytometry enables clinicians to detect disease recurrence much earlier than previously possible, supporting more informed treatment decisions and personalized patient management. The assay reflects the broader movement toward precision oncology, where highly accurate laboratory diagnostics help physicians tailor therapies based on individual disease characteristics. As demand for advanced MRD testing continues to grow, ARUP’s innovation strengthens the role of diagnostic laboratories in delivering actionable clinical insights for hematologic malignancies.
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ARUP Strengthens Leadership in Diagnostic Innovation
With more than 40 years of expertise in laboratory medicine, ARUP Laboratories continues to expand its portfolio of advanced diagnostic technologies supporting cancer care. The introduction of CLARISPECT™ Multiple Myeloma MRD demonstrates the organization’s commitment to combining innovation, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and precision diagnostics to improve patient outcomes. Company leaders highlighted that ARUP’s extensive experience handling complex and rare disease cases provides a strong foundation for validating highly sensitive testing platforms while maintaining exceptional quality standards. As an ISO 15189 and CAP-accredited reference laboratory, ARUP remains at the forefront of developing next-generation assays that address unmet clinical needs. The organization also confirmed plans to expand its spectral flow cytometry MRD testing portfolio, reinforcing its long-term strategy of advancing precision medicine, enhancing diagnostic confidence, and supporting oncologists with increasingly sophisticated laboratory tools. The launch of ARUP CLARISPECT™ Multiple Myeloma MRD by Spectral Flow Cytometry represents an important advancement in hematologic cancer diagnostics, providing clinicians with powerful new capabilities for monitoring treatment response, improving prognostic assessment, and delivering more personalized care for patients living with multiple myeloma.
Source: ARUP Laboratories press release
