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Pre-Pregnancy Genetic Testing
Many Genetic Diseases Are Preventable
Each year millions of healthy parents are taken by surprise when their children are born with life-threatening genetic disorders. These parents are carriers: healthy individuals who nevertheless have a mutant version of a critical gene.
Testing Allows Prevention
The new medical consensus is that every adult should be offered genetic testing before pregnancy. Early testing is the only way to know if your pregnancy will be at high risk, and to allow you and your doctor to take specific actions to conceive a healthy child.
At Last, One Test For Everyone
The Universal Genetic Test is the first carrier test for men and women of all ethnic backgrounds. It can be done prior to conceiving. If any test is abnormal, you will have access to genetic counselors who can help you determine your best option.
A Simple Pre-Pregnancy Test for Men and Women
At Fertility & Women’s Health Center, we offer pre-conception testing to see if parents are carriers for serious and even life-threatening diseases. Even though every couple has a 2-3% risk of birth defects, some couples are at increased risk for inherited diseases. Certain ethnic groups are at increased risk for carrying the traits of specific diseases. Examples of these include:
- Caucasian/European: 1 in 28 risk for Cystic Fibrosis
- African American: 1 in 12 for Sickle Cell Disease
- Cajun and French Canadian: 1 in 30 risk of Tay-Sachs Disease.
- Ashkenazi Jewish: 1 in 16 for Gaucher’s Disease; 1 in 31 risk of Tay- Sach’s Disease
For more thorough information on the Universal Genetic Test, please visit www.Counsyl.com.
How Much Does It Cost?
It is recommended to test both husband and wife, although it is acceptable to first test the wife to see if she is positive first. Many times insurance covers the cost of this test. The billing office at Counsyl (www.Counsyl.com) will determine if you have coverage for this or not.