Specialty Genetic Testing

Genetic screening is at the forefront of research around the globe. Like never before, we are able to look at the entire genome of a person and determine various conditions or traits you may be predisposed to. This allows an individual to be proactive and take preventative measures to maintain their health and well-being. All of the genetic screening companies we use provide their patients with a genetic counselor to provide support and answer any questions you may have.

Carrier: This testing is done to determine if one or both parents are carriers of certain genetic disorders. If initially only one parent wants to be treated and the results come back as being a carrier for a specific gene, we will test the other parent at a reduced cost. Both parents could be healthy individuals, but happen to be carriers of the same genetic disorder. This would put their child at a significantly increased risk for the genetic disorder of which they are both carriers. With this information, parents are able to prepare for the child's birth in a more tailored way suitable to the care he/she will need. This information is also useful for treating and caring for a child with a disability of an unknown source.

Family Cancer: Some cancers are a result of lifestyle or environment. Those types of cancers are known as sporadic cancer. They account for 80% of cancer and are typically found in adults because they occur over a long period of time. On the other hand, 15% of cancers are deemed familial. That means they result from genes a person has inherited from their parents and generations before them. In our office, we offer genetic testing to ascertain if you have inherited particular genes that contribute to familial cancers or other inherited conditions we test for.

NIPT: Non-invasive pregnancy testing, or NIPT, is a blood test that separates the fetal DNA from the mother's to look for evidence of a chromosomal defect. Chromosomal defects detected by this screening include Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome and others. Having this screening done can reduce the possibility of having more invasive procedures done, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. This test will also determine the gender of the baby.