Genetics
Genetic testing is a powerful tool in understanding your risk and taking proactive steps to protect your health.
There are several reasons why you would choose to undergo genetic screening and many health societies advocate for increased offering of genetic screening options in the primary care setting.
Offering genetic screening tests is something that any primary care practitioner can do, but it does need increased time dedicated to the visit to properly assess risk factors, choose appropriate testing, and make sure that consent for genetic testing is well informed. Unfortunately, there is often not time for this in today’s primary care setting and many primary care providers may not feel fluent enough with the testing options to offer it. So, commonly a referral to genetic counseling is placed.
Genetic counselors are typically booked several months to a year or more out and their schedules are typically occupied by high risk or already diagnosed individuals. This is where we come in! Here at Something To Crow About Health Clinic, we have focused in on this high need service line to offer routine screening options.
The categories of tests that we offer are:
Hereditary Cancer Screening
For people who have clusters of cancers within their family, or who do not know their family history, or who have no risk factors but just want to be proactive in their health management. The most common example is breast and ovarian cancers (pertinent to men as well as this gene can be passed down through the male side of the family to future generations of women as well as is implicated in many cases of prostate cancer) and Lynch Syndrome which significantly raises the risk of colorectal cancer.
Carrier Screening
This test is for men or women anticipating starting a family at some point in the future. This test screens for hereditary conditions and helps predict the likelihood of passing them on to your children so that you either make an informed decision when choosing to start a family, or be aware of what you should be on the look out for in your children. Common conditions that may be passed onto children include cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and various anemias.
Cardiovascular Screening
For people who have clusters of cardiovascular conditions within their family, or who do not know their family history, or who have no risk factors but just want to be proactive in their health management. Examples include the genes that contribute to various inherited cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathies, arrhythmic disorders, thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).
Metabolic Screening
Commonly chosen for individuals who have tried multiple medications and found that they just do not respond to them as expected. Common examples include abnormalities in the MTHFR gene which can contribute to conditions like migraines, chronic fatigue, PCOS, IBS, ADHD, Autism…..; the COMT gene which affects our catecholamine system (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine – commonly correlated with conditions like depression, addiction, excess aggression, low libido); and the Cytochrome P450 systems which affects how we metabolize about 90% of medications.
Negative tests results may help give peace of mind that you do not have increased risk for developing certain conditions. A return of positive results will allow us to refer you to genetic counseling (most of the companies we use offer genetic counseling to further discuss the condition and management options) and/or referral to specialty services as indicated.
Cost
$200 for initial consult plus follow up appointment after results are received + the cost of the test itself which may or may not be covered by insurance depending on the each individual scenario.
Most testing companies have an out of pocket max of $300 if insurance does not apply. You may submit the consultation fee to insurance as well and they may cover it depending on your unique plan and deductible/copay situation. The benefit to this cash pay option is to receive the testing in a timely manner, without having to travel to a genetic counseling office as we do offer a virtual or in person visit for this, with a practitioner who is well versed in these preventive screening options.
*Because each of the categories of genetic screening involves detailed history taking and decision making related to the specific condition that is being tested for, we can only address one per consult.
*Insured patients can bill their insurance for the genetic test