What Are DNA Medical Tests?
Each person has a unique genome, which consists of the DNA of the individual. An essential step in genetic testing is to talk to your doctor, medical geneticist, or genetic counselor about what the results will do. If genetic testing does not lead to a diagnosis, but a genetic cause is still suspected, some institutions offer the possibility of analyzing DNA samples from the blood. [Sources: 4]
If you decide to take a DNA test for medical reasons, talk to a genetic counselor to see which sequence stage best suits your needs. Genetic testing is useful in many areas of medicine. It can change the medical care you and your family members receive. Look out for genetic testing because changes in your DNA can inform your medical care. [Sources: 1, 3]
Genetic testing can, for example, tell you your risk of developing cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and other health conditions. [Sources: 1]
Many DNA tests for consumers today provide people with information not related to whether or not they have a severe genetic disorder. Genetic tests are carried out using blood or spit samples, and the results are usually available within a few weeks. [Sources: 1, 2]
Next-generation gene sequencing can detect variations in an individual’s genome associated with various traits that are not necessarily associated with disease and disease. Often several genetic variants play a role, and links have been established between characteristics based on research linking genetic variations in specific populations to traits. [Sources: 2]
Genetic testing involves examining the chemical database, which contains instructions for bodily function. It can also detect attributes that may cause disease but r not identified by other medical tests yet. By comparing the DNA with the DNA of other traits, the analysis can infer what mutations you might have. [Sources: 2, 4]
Research and testing include finding unknown genes, learning how genes work, and advancing our understanding of genetic conditions. Genetic testing can provide valuable information on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, but there are limits. [Sources: 0, 4]
New Availability of Genetic Testing
In the past DNA genetic testing is only carried out as part of research studies and is not ordinarily available to patients or healthcare providers. DNA tests usually are only available if the tests have been partially carried out for research or clinical studies, and the patients themselves are generally not available. [Sources: 0]
There has been a surge in consumer-focused genetic testing focused on heritage and ancestry – we all know who we mean. However, medical professionals have expressed concerns that these tests are not sufficiently comprehensive to be relied on to replace other screening tests – such as mammograms or colonoscopies. In fairness, these companies have made the limits of the test very clear and encourage consumers to talk to their doctor about the results and possibly seek more comprehensive genetic testing. If a person chooses genetic testing, it should be ordered only after obtaining informed consent. [Sources: 0, 6]
The information from a DNA medical test could be crucial, for example, to help patients discover they have a genetic mutation for a particular disease. One of the best known of these is the brca her2 mutation, which can put women (and to a lesser extent men) at higher risk of breast cancer. [Sources: 6]
The information found through a genetic test can have a massive impact on your life, so before you do the test, you should talk to a doctor who specializes in genetics. Genetic counseling can help you understand your genetic risks and decide whether you want tests. [Sources: 8]
According to the American Academy of Neurology, DNA testing to predict disease risk can potentially prevent disease and save lives. [Sources: 7]
Few Americans currently have access to predictive DNA testing in the health system. However, universal DNA screening will become possible with improved technology and the investments in genomics.
DNA screening would encourage otherwise healthy people to identify those at risk by only taking a blood or saliva sample. Advanced carrier status screening is a type of genetic DNA test that can estimate the reproductive risk in healthy people, Feero said. He told INSIDER that it would be useful if you were a woman considering pregnancy and wanted to know what genetic changes you might have in your DNA. [Sources: 2, 7]
Today, more than 1,000 hospitals and healthcare providers in the US offer tests that tell you if you are a carrier of various genetic disorders. [Sources: 2]
There are also several direct DNA tests for consumers, which also provide such a result. DNA testing and can provide a fascinating insight into your ethnic heritage, as well as testing for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, to name a few. [Sources: 2, 5]
Sources:
[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_testing
[1]: https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/gtesting/genetic_testing.htm
[2]: https://www.insider.com/what-a-dna-test-can-tell-you-2019-6
[3]: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/review-genetic-tests-23andme-veritas-genos-health-comparison
[4]: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/genetic-testing/about/pac-20384827
[5]: https://www.aetna.com/health-guide/dna-health-testing-facts.html
[8]: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.genetic-test.hw4787
