Patent ID: 7801683

Claim:
A computer recordable medium having computer-executable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for determining an optimal genetic test order for diagnosing mutations that relate to a disease, the method comprising: a) generating a data set by: identifying known unique genetic mutations that relate to the disease and the frequency with which each mutation occurs in the population; identifying assays required to diagnose each of the mutations that relate to the disease; identifying the average cost of each assay; and for each assay, identifying the probability of a successful diagnosis of each of the mutations that relate to the disease; b) maintaining the data set to include new data received on the mutations that relate to the disease, the frequency distribution of mutations that relate to the disease and the assays required to diagnose the mutations that relate to the disease; c) applying at least one decision tree algorithm, wherein the at least one decision tree algorithm comprises: (i) generating at least two strategies using the assays within the database; and (ii) ranking the at least two strategies by calculating the strategy expected cost for each of the at least two strategies; d) identifying, from the ranked at least two strategies, the optimal genetic test order as the strategy with the lowest expected cost; and e) presenting the optimal genetic test order to a user via an output device.