Genetic testing has become old-hat in today’s modern world. Most genealogists think about genetic testing from the viewpoint of finding cousins, ancestry, and world-wide places of origin. We typically deal with less than a half dozen genetic testing firms that most genealogists are acquainted with. However, there are all kinds of genetic testing companies out there – and they have many different specialties. FindTheBest.com has a published online list of these companies, complete with their locations, services, and even comparisons. The following guest post was written by Conrad Yu of FindTheBest.com:
When people hear about DNA or genetics testing, (unfortunately) they tend to think about paternity tests as made popular by shows like Jerry Springer or Maury. But the vast majority of genetics testing have other rather important purposes that especially affect those thinking about starting or expanding their families. Because a significant amount of diseases and illnesses have at least somewhat of a hereditary component to their contraction or development,
Whether you want to test for disease risk or determine your ancestry, there are several types of genetic testing that are done for different reasons:
- Diagnostic testing is done for those who show symptoms of a disease that may be caused by genetic alterations, such as adult polycystic kidney disease, iron overload (hemochromatosis), and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
- Genealogical testing allows people to trace their ancestry, enabling them to determine the probability that they are—or are not—related to another person within an approximate number of generations. It can also be used in forensic science to identify crime victims, rule out suspects, or establish biological relationships.
- Pre-symptomatic and predictive testing is intended for those who have a family history of a genetic condition and want to know whether they are at risk of developing that condition.
- Carrier testing can determine if someone carries a copy of an altered gene that would put a child at risk of developing the disorder. This type of genetic testing is therefore best for someone with a family history of a genetic disorder, such as sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis, and plans to have children in the near future. It may also be useful for those in an ethnic group that has a high risk of a particular genetic disorder.
- Pharmacogenetics can identify what medication and dosage would be most effective and beneficial for those with a particular health condition or disease.
- Prenatal testing can detect changes or abnormalities in a fetus’ genes before birth. Spina bifida and Down syndrome are two genetic disorders that are often screened for as part of prenatal genetic testing. This is often done with an amniocentesis, but this process has been known to pose certain risks, such as miscarriages.
- Newborn screening is the most common type of genetic testing. In the United States, all states require newborns to be tested for certain gene abnormalities that cause specific conditions, such as phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism, as this allows for care and treatment to begin immediately. Diagnostic and carrier testing can also be done to confirm a diagnosis or to let people know if their children are at risk of inheriting a genetic disorder or being a carrier of a condition.
- Pre-implantation testing may be used to lower the chances that someone will have a child with a particular genetic disorder. Also known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), this test requires a woman to conceive a child through in vitro fertilization. With in vitro, eggs are taken from a woman and sperm are taken from a man to create embryos outside of the body. Once these embryos are created, they will be screened for genetic abnormalities. Those without any abnormalities will then be implanted in the uterus in hopes of achieving pregnancy.
It is important to note that most traditional genetic tests for diagnosing disease, screening for carrier status, or predicting medication response will require a doctor’s prescription or referral. Many other tests, however, can be directly requested by consumers.
Before finding genetic testing centers and testing at any one particular facility, it is important to consider the following:
- Services: It is imperative to determine whether a genetic clinic has the particular test you need. Many genetic testing centers will also provide various services like counseling, ongoing care, and further diagnostic testing for people who are diagnosed with a genetic disorder or condition. See which facilities offer the services or testing you need and narrow your options from there.
- Accreditation: It is also important to consider the various types of accreditation when researching genetic testing centers. A seal of accreditation indicates that the facility has qualified staff members for diagnosing, evaluating, and/or treating patients with hereditary disorders and conditions. It is therefore beneficial to select a testing center with doctors who are certified in the type of genetic health care you need.
