Asked & Answered: Genetic Testing Process

Sanofi Genzyme does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The health information contained herein is provided for general educational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your health or treatment.

You may talk with a medical geneticist or genetic counselor to gain a deeper understanding of your family medical history and discuss your concerns about certain conditions.

How Genetic Testing Works

The purpose of a talk about genetic testing is to make an informed choice of whether to test or not to test—or take another action before you have genetic testing. Talk to your primary care doctor, who can help you decide whether to consult with a genetics professional.

Medical Geneticist vs Genetic Counselor

A medical geneticist is a doctor who specializes in several areas of medicine, from developmental and hereditary disorders to cancer and prenatal genetics. A genetic counselor has a master’s degree in genetics and is a specialist in interpreting genetic test results and family medical histories.

Various Types of Genetic Tests

The usefulness of genetic testing differs widely from one disease to the next. A targeted genetic test can confirm the presence of a specific single disease, which is the most useful scenario if you are already having symptoms.

Benefits and Risks of Genetic Testing

The clinical benefit of genetic testing can provide confirmation of a diagnosis or, just as importantly, can exclude a diagnosis of serious concern. Genetic testing can also help confirm or rule out an inherited condition among a patient’s relatives who don’t have signs or symptoms.

Are you still curious about what’s in your genes?

Read more about genetic testing from our specialist, Dr Ibrahim.

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