LA JOLLA, Calif. -- A local company has developed a new method of detecting the deadliest form of skin cancer, 10News reported.

About 70,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year. Right now, a doctor has to cut a patient's mole and send it to a lab for results -- a process that many patients say is painful and often times comes back negative.

However, a new method being tested at La Jolla-based DermTech is said to be pain-free.

Barbara McDonald has had three moles removed, and her daughter, Sarah Lenaburg, has had two taken off.

"One was right here in my bikini area, and the other was on my back," said Lenaburg.

Lenaburg's test came back negative but she said figuring it out was painful.

"It stings, it's terrible. They have to dig in there with a knife," said Lenaburg.

DermTech says their new test comes without the pain. The company's MelDTect test has the patient apply a special piece of tape to their skin and it collects genetic information. After it is peeled off, it is sent to a lab to be studied.

George Schwartz developed the new technology and said after four days doctors will receive a special printout where results can be further analyzed.

Dr. Bill Wachsman is a cancer researcher at the University of California, San Diego, and the VA Medical Center, and he told 10News he supports the MelDTect test.

The test is currently in clinical trials in San Diego, and so far it has shown great promise in helping detect melanoma.

"Anytime a pathologist has said you have melanoma, we've been able to say, 'You have melanoma,' without having to cut you," said Schwartz.

Development of the MelDTect test began about two years ago, but it still has to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

If all goes well for the test, it could be on the market in less than three years.