genetic testing genetic testing
A medical test that could identify a health risk to a person or their biological family members by looking at their genes (DNA).
Example of genetic testing in a sentence
Genetic testing is done on cells from blood, tissues, and other fluids from the body.
More Info
In clinical research, genetic testing looks for changes in DNA that are different from what is most common.
Genetic testing is done on DNA, which is the genetic material found in cells. DNA provides instructions for how the body grows and develops. Changes or differences in DNA are called variants. Some variants may be linked to increased risk for a disease and affect personal health. However, not every variant is understood or has a known health effect, and more could be learned about its effect in the future.
Other info to think about when joining a study
You may hear the term “genetic testing” from both your regular doctors and researchers involved in studies. You may even hear about genetic testing kits that you can buy yourself.
Some research studies may have genetic testing as part of the study or offer it to participants if they are interested. If genetic testing is part of a research study, you may want to ask more questions, including what information could be learned during testing, what different results could mean for you or your biological family members, and if there are any risks associated with the testing. Sometimes differences are found but whether those differences are important is unclear. Discussing these possibilities with the study team could be helpful.
You may want to ask if you will receive the results from genetic testing and if these results will be shared with anyone else besides the study team. You may also want to ask if there will be a genetic counselor to explain the results to you if the study team shares this information with you.
