In MRD surveillance, which interval is typical?

• A. Every 1-2 weeks
• B. Every 3-6 months
• C. Every 2 years
• D. Biweekly

Answer: (B)

Minimal residual disease surveillance is all about catching relapse early while keeping testing practical for the patient. After achieving remission, relapse risk is highest in the near term, so monitoring needs to be frequent enough to detect rising MRD but not so often that it becomes burdensome or unnecessary given the test’s cost and sensitivity. Checking MRD every 3 to 6 months provides a window to identify relapse early enough to intervene, without the strain of weekly or biweekly testing. It also fits common follow-up patterns in many hematologic trials and real-world practice. Testing more often than every few weeks adds little predictive value and increases burden, while spacing out to every two years risks missing a relapse for too long. Therefore, an interval of every 3–6 months is typically used for MRD surveillance in the post-remission period, with adjustments based on individual relapse risk and test characteristics.