FAQ

Carrier screening is genetic testing done to determine if there is a couple is at increased risk to have a child affected with a genetic condition.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, carrier screening should be offered to pregnant women and to all women who are considering pregnancy, regardless of ethnicity and family history. If a woman is found to be a carrier for a specific condition, her partner should be offered screening.

Carrier screening provides the opportunity for couples to know their carrier risk for several inherited conditions. Knowing this risk before pregnancy, presents the maximum number of reproductive options such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), the use of donor eggs or sperm, adoption, and the planning of a child with an inherited condition. If a couple is identified as carriers for a specific condition during pregnancy, prenatal diagnostic testing via CVS or amniocentesis is available.