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By Mayo Clinic staffBefore you undergo 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. This will help you better understand your risk. Discuss any questions or concerns you have about genetic testing at that meeting. Also, talk about what your options will be, depending on the results of the test.
If you are being tested for a genetic disorder that runs in families, you may want to consider discussing your decision to undergo genetic testing with your family members. Having these conversations before testing can give you a sense of how your family might respond to your test results and how it will affect them.
Not all health insurance pays for genetic testing. So, before you have a genetic test, check with your insurance provider to see what will be covered.
- Frequently asked questions about genetic testing. National Human Genome Research Institute. http://www.genome.gov/19516567. Accessed Nov. 3, 2008.
- Genetics home reference: Genetic testing handbook. U.S. National Library of Medicine. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/testing/genetictesting. Accessed Nov. 3, 2008.
- Hunter DJ, et al. Letting the genome out of the bottle — Will we get our wish? The New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;358:106.
- Ensenauer RE, et al. Medical genomics: Primer on medical genomics part VIII: Essentials of medical genetics for the practicing physician. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2003;78:846.
- Gene testing: Human Genome Project information. Human Genome Program. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetest.shtml. Accessed Nov. 3, 2008.
- Kaye CI. Newborn screening fact sheets. Pediatrics. 2006;118:934.
- Pinksy, L. Overview of genetic assessment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 3, 2008.
- Genetic testing: What it means for your health & for your family's health. National Human Genome Research Institute. http://www.genome.gov/Pages/Health/PatientsPublicInfo/GeneticTestingWhatItMeansForYourHealth.pdf. Accessed Nov. 3, 2008.
- Understanding cancer series: Gene testing. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/genetesting. Accessed Nov. 12, 2008.
