What is Genetic Testing? A Complete Guide

What is Genetic Testing?

Genetic testing examines your DNA — the chemical database that carries instructions for your body's functions. Testing can reveal changes or alterations in your genes that may cause illness or disease.

Types of Genetic Tests

There are several types of genetic tests available today:

Diagnostic testing is used to confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition in a symptomatic person.

Predictive and presymptomatic testing identifies gene mutations that increase a person's risk of developing genetic disorders.

Carrier testing determines whether a person carries one copy of a gene mutation that, when present in two copies, causes a genetic disorder.

Prenatal testing detects changes in a fetus's genes or chromosomes before birth.

What Can Genetic Testing Tell You?

• Your risk for certain diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes
• Whether you carry genes that could be passed to your children
• How your body processes medications (pharmacogenomics)
• Your ancestry and ethnic background

Understanding Your Results

Genetic test results can be:

• Positive: A mutation was found
• Negative: No mutation was found in the tested genes
• Variant of uncertain significance (VUS): A change was found but its impact isn't yet known

Next Steps After Testing

Getting a genetic test is just the beginning. Working with a certified genetic counselor helps you understand what your results mean for you and your family.

At Allelic, every report is reviewed by board-certified geneticists and paired with access to genetic counselors who can walk you through your results in plain language.