Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease (MRD)

Minimal or measurable residual disease (MRD) refers to the tiny number of myeloma cells that may stay in the body after treatment, even when standard tests show no signs of cancer. Specialized, highly sensitive laboratory tests check your blood or bone marrow to see if these remaining cells can be detected. Knowing your MRD status helps your healthcare team understand how deeply your body responded to therapy and can guide future treatment decisions. In this topic, you will find information on what MRD test results mean, how testing is done, and how this measure is used to monitor your health over time.