Your result is reported back to your doctor, usually within two weeks of the laboratory receiving your blood sample. Couples tested by Sonic Genetics and found to be at high risk of having an affected child will be offered genetic counselling free-of-charge^, upon referral from your doctor.
Most tests are returned within 2-3 weeks, but some may take up to 8 weeks. Your genetic counselor will review this with you during your appointment. How will I get my results? Learning genetic test results can bring up emotions for some people; therefore how you learn the results is up to you.
Some genetic tests may be available within a few days; others may take weeks and some several months. The doctor ordering the test will tell you when to expect the results and how the result will be given to you.
Accessing genetic testing is simple, and most of the time all we need is a blood sample or a cheek swab. With medical genetic testing, you will need to see your doctor first to discuss whether the test is right for you and to organise a referral form.
There may also be a separate collection fee that covers the cost of collecting the required samples for whatever tests have been ordered on a particular occasion. More than 90% of the genetic tests provided across Australia are not covered by Medicare.
Speak to a GP if cancer runs in your family and you're worried you may get it too. They may refer you to a local genetics service for an NHS genetic test, which will tell you if you have inherited one of the cancer risk genes. This type of testing is known as predictive genetic testing.
The vast majority of embryos with abnormal results do not survive to implant or result in a miscarriage within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Test results are estimated to be about 98% to 99% accurate. There is about a 1% to 2% chance the result is not correct.
Before you have genetic testing, gather as much information as you can about your family's medical history. Then, talk with your doctor or a genetic counselor about your personal and family medical history to better understand your risk. Ask questions and discuss any concerns about genetic testing at that meeting.
A genetic test has to be aimed at a specific gene for each individual. We each have many, many genes in our DNA, and each gene has many parts, called exons and introns. It is impossible at this time to test every one of a person's genes.
Genetic testing looks for causes of ASD but cannot be used to diagnose ASD. Some people with ASD have syndromic ASD, meaning that they have other specific features in addition to having ASD, such as looking different from other people in the family or having birth defects.
A positive result typically means that you're at higher risk of developing a hereditary condition. Sometimes, a positive result can explain why you're having certain symptoms. Or, it can alert you to a risk you didn't know about. It could lead to changing how you and your doctor manage your health care.
Three major types of genetic testing are available in laboratories: cytogenetic (to examine whole chromosomes), biochemical (to measure protein produced by genes), and molecular (to look for small DNA mutations). (See Chapter 2 and Appendix I for more information.)
Genetic testing looks for changes, sometimes called mutations or variants, in your DNA. Genetic testing is useful in many areas of medicine and can change the medical care you or your family member receives.
Genetic testing can provide only limited information about an inherited condition. The test often can't determine if a person will show symptoms of a disorder, how severe the symptoms will be, or whether the disorder will progress over time.
Rarely, tests results can be false negative, which occur when the results indicate a decreased risk or a genetic condition when the person is actually affected. In some cases, a test result might not give any useful information. This type of result is called uninformative, indeterminate, inconclusive, or ambiguous.
Medicare has limited coverage of genetic testing for an inherited genetic mutation. Medicare covers genetic testing for people with a cancer diagnosis who meet certain criteria; you must have a cancer diagnosis to qualify for coverage of genetic testing for an inherited mutation under Medicare.
For some people, the answer is clearly yes. When performed accurately, genetic tests can uncover a disease or a tendency to develop certain conditions, and it can lead to close relatives getting tested as well. Preventive measures or treatment can be lifesaving. Here are four examples (though there are many more).
A family member with more than 1 type of cancer. Family members who had cancer at a younger age than normal for that type of cancer. Close relatives with cancers that are linked to rare hereditary cancer syndromes. A rare cancer (in you or a family member), such as breast cancer in a man or retinoblastoma.
The cancers with the highest genetic contribution include breast, bowel, stomach and prostate cancers. Referral to a specialist cancer genetics service may be appropriate for people with a strong family history of cancer.
A DNA test (genetic testing) is a medical test that can identify mutations in your genes, chromosomes or proteins. These mutations can indicate if you have or don't have a genetic condition. DNA tests can also identify your risk for developing a certain condition or passing on a genetic disorder.
A harmful variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2 can be inherited from either parent. Each child of a parent who carries any mutation in one of these genes has a 50% chance (or 1 in 2 chance) of inheriting the mutation. Inherited mutations—also called germline mutations or variants—are present from birth in all cells in the body.