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Gain genetic testing insights to inform the best care for you

With Labcorp, genetic testing gives you and your provider important health information to help you choose the best care plan and treatment options.
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What is genetic testing?

Genetic testing looks for changes in DNA, the blueprint for a body’s functions. These changes, called gene variants, may cause changes to your body’s functions, including illness or disease, and can be passed down through families. Gaining insights about your genes can also inform the care of your family members.

Your healthcare provider can order genetic testing from Labcorp to check your DNA for gene variants.

Benefits of genetic testing

Get a powerful look into DNA

12M+

genetic tests performed for patients across the globe

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Genetic results you can trust

Get results backed by the latest science thanks to Labcorp’s 50+ years as a global life sciences leader.

Easy access to genetic testing

Most health insurance plans now cover genetic testing when it is clinically appropriate. And you can choose from our patient service centers nationwide to find one near you.

Support when you need it

If you have questions about genetic testing or your results, you can talk to a genetic counselor.

Featured genetic offerings

Pre-pregnancy

Carrier screening can help detect if you and/or your partner are at increased risk of having a baby with a specific inherited disorder. 

Pre-pregnancy
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Pregnancy

Prenatal cell-free DNA (cfDNA/NIPT) screening can give you insights about your baby's genetic health during pregnancy, as early as 9 weeks into pregnancy. 

Pregnancy
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Cancer

Hereditary cancer screening and testing can help you find out if you may be at risk of certain cancers, whether you might be a candidate for a targeted treatment, or if you have cancer. 

Hereditary Cancer
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How genetic testing works at Labcorp

Step 1

Talk to your healthcare provider about which testing is right for you

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Step 2

Provide your sample

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Step 3

Get personalized genetic testing insights

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What is a genetic counselor?

If you’re thinking about genetic testing, our genetic counselors can help you decide what tests are right for you. After you’ve been tested, genetic counselors can answer questions about your results and what they mean for your health.

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FAQs

Genetic testing looks for changes in your DNA that may increase a person's risk for a particular health condition. This often includes testing for:

  • Conditions that run in families, like cystic fibrosis, familial hypercholesterolemia and others

  • Your risk of certain types of cancer

  • Carrier status: These tests check if you or your partner carry a gene variant that could be passed to your children

  • How your genes might affect your response to medications

  • Pregnant parents, genetic conditions that may develop in their baby

The specific genes or markers tested can vary depending on the test indication and the lab performing it. Your healthcare provider can provide you with more information or refer you to a genetic counselor to learn more about test options and/or understanding your results.   

Some of the most common genetic disorders include:

  • Down syndrome (trisomy 21) 

  • Cystic fibrosis 

  • Sickle cell disease 

  • Fragile X syndrome 

  • Klinefelter syndrome 

  • Triple-X syndrome 

  • Turner syndrome 

  • Tay-Sachs disease 

  • Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) 

  • Patau syndrome (trisomy 13)

These health issues happen because of changes in small sections of our DNA, called genes or chromosomes, that carry instructions for how the body works. These changes can happen for the first time in a family or be passed to a child from one or both parents. What signs and symptoms show up can be different for each person.

Most cancers are not hereditary, but some types can be. Here are some examples of cancers that can be passed down in families:

  • Breast cancer 

  • Ovarian cancer 

  • Colorectal cancer (cancer in the large intestine) 

  • Prostate cancer 

  • Pancreatic cancer 

  • Melanoma 

If these cancers run in your family, you might have a higher chance of developing them, but a higher risk of cancer does not mean you will definitely get cancer. Talking to your healthcare provider, such as a genetic counselor, can help you understand your risk. They can also help you decide if you should get genetic testing for hereditary cancer.

There are two types of genetic tests that can help parents learn about their baby’s health: a cell-free DNA screening test, also known as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), and carrier screening.

Cell-free DNA screening test (NIPT)

  • Done during pregnancy (as early as 9 weeks into pregnancy) 

  • Checks the baby’s risk for certain chromosome problems 

  • Uses the mom’s blood sample

Carrier screening

  • Can be done before or during pregnancy

  • Checks if parents might pass on genetic disorders to their baby 

  • Uses blood or saliva samples from both parents 

The main differences are

When it’s done

Cell-free DNA screening (NIPT) is completed during pregnancy (as early as 9 weeks into pregnancy); carrier screening can be before or during pregnancy.

What it checks

Cell-free DNA screening (NIPT) looks at the baby’s DNA circulating in the mother’s blood; carrier screening looks at DNA in the parents

What it finds

Cell-free DNA screening (NIPT) checks for chromosomal problems; carrier screening checks for inherited autosomal recessive disorders

How it’s done

Cell-free DNA screening (NIPT) uses mom’s blood; carrier screening uses blood or saliva samples from both parents

Whether you should undergo genetic testing can depend on several factors. You may be eligible if:

  1. You have your own history of certain diseases or conditions 

  2. You have a strong family history of certain conditions or types of cancer passed down through families 

  3. You and your partner are considering having a baby and/or you are pregnant and want to know more about the genetic health of your baby  

  4. You’re having symptoms that may be related to a genetic condition 

  5. Your doctor suggests genetic testing based on your overall health and risk factors 

It's important to talk to your healthcare provider to find out if genetic testing is right for you.

Genetic counselors can help you understand genetic information in a way that’s easy to grasp. They offer support throughout your genetic testing experience. For example, they can help you:

  • Determine your genetic health risks 

  • Figure out what genetic tests might be right for you 

  • Explain what your genetic test results mean

To learn more about working with genetic counselors, read our Q&A with Michaela Mundt, MS, LCGC, a licensed genetic counselor at Labcorp.

Labcorp’s genetic test cost estimator is a tool to help you determine the out-of-pocket costs associated with pre-pregnancy and pregnancy genetic testing, based on your insurance coverage.

Questions? We’re here to help.

Our team is available to answer questions and guide you. 

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