Procedure

There are many types of genetic testing.
• Diagnostic testing is used to identify a disease making you ill.
• Predictive and pre-symptomatic testing is used to find gene changes that increase your likelihood of developing a disease.
• Carrier testing is used to find those who “carry” a change in a gene that is linked to disease, While carriers may show no signs of a disease, they have the ability to pass on the gene change to their children, who could develop the disease or become carriers themselves.
• Prenatal testing is done during pregnancy to help identify fetuses that have certain conditions.
• Newborn screening is used to test babies one or two days after birth to find out if they have certain diseases known to cause problems with health and development.
• Pharmacogenomic testing is used to determine how certain medicines are processed by an individual’s body.

Benefits

Genetic testing can be beneficial whether the test identifies a condition or not. The test can eliminate uncertainty surrounding your health if it turns out a condition isn’t present. If a condition is detected, the test can also help doctors make recommendations for treatment or additional steps, and help you make informed choices about your future.

FAQs