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Published on: 22nd February 2023
Medically reviewed by: General Practitioner at First Response Healthcare
Medically reviewed by: General Practitioner at First Response Healthcare
Genetic testing involves examining your DNA. Genetic testing is a medical procedure that uses DNA to identify changes. These tests can help confirm or rule out suspected genetic conditions, as well as provide information about a person’s chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. Know about your ancestry DNA and see how it shapes your cultural, political, or political significance through the use of our advanced DNA testing technology. With accurate ancestry DNA testing stay rest assured about your results through the use of our services. Over 77,000 such tests are currently in use, and new ones are being developed constantly.
To understand how DNA test is performed, you need to know that genetic testing involves looking for changes in the following:
- Genes: Gene tests analyze variations (mutations) in a person’s genes in an effort to identify those that may increase the risk of developing a genetic disorder. There are two types of gene tests: narrow scope, which examines one or more genes, and large-scope testing, which looks at all of a person’s DNA.
- Chromosomes: Chromosomal genetic tests look for large-scale changes in a person’s DNA, such as an extra copy of a chromosome. Chromosomal genetic tests help one know about abnormalities that may lead to conditions like Down Syndrome or cancer.
- Proteins: Biochemical genetic tests involve measuring the level or activity of proteins or enzymes. Abnormalities in either of these can signal changes to a person’s DNA, which may lead to a genetic disorder.
Why Is Genetic Testing Useful?
Genetic testing is essential for understanding the risk of developing certain diseases, as well as screening potential medical interventions. From finding out about your ancestry DNA to taking certain precautions for your health, there can be a lot of reasons for which you can undergo genetic testing. There are a variety of types of genetic tests that can be carried out for different reasons, such as the following:
- Diagnostic Testing: By studying mutated genes, genetic testing can be used to determine if an individual has a disorder that is likely caused by genetic changes. For example, this could include confirming the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease.
- Presymptomatic and Predictive Testing: Presymptomatic and predictive testing refers to the practice of identifying risk factors for a particular condition prior to actually experiencing symptoms. This type of test can be helpful in determining whether you are at risk for developing a certain condition, such as colorectal cancer. Presymptomatic and predictive testing can especially be very useful if you have a family history of a genetic disorder or condition.
- Carrier Testing: This type of genetic testing can be very useful before having children. If there is a genetic disorder in the family history, Carrier testing is a procedure used to determine if you are carrying the gene and if there is the possibility of you passing it on to your offspring.
- Pharmacogenetics: Pharmacogenetics is the study of how a person’s genetic makeup can affect their response to medications. If you are diagnosed with a particular health condition, pharmacogenetic testing may help determine which medication and dosage will be most effective for you.
- Prenatal Testing: During pregnancy, tests can detect certain genetic abnormalities in the baby. Down syndrome and trisomy 18 syndrome are two genetic disorders commonly screened for with prenatal genetic testing. Traditionally, this has been done using markers in the blood or by invasive tests such as amniocentesis. A new test, called a cell-free DNA test, looks at the baby’s DNA through a mother’s blood test.
- Newborn Screening: As a part of this test, newborns are screened for certain genetic and metabolic abnormalities that cause certain medical conditions. This type of genetic testing allows immediate initiation of care and treatment if results indicate the presence of disorders such as congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell anemia, or phenylketonuria (PKU).
- Preimplantation Testing: Also called preimplantation genetic testing, this test can be used if you are trying to conceive a child through in vitro fertilization. This type of genetic testing examines embryos for genetic abnormalities.
How Can You Prepare For Genetic Testing?
Knowing and understanding how DNA tests work or how DNA is performed is one of the first steps in preparing for genetic testing. The next step is to gather as much information as possible about your family’s medical history before undergoing genetic testing. You can talk to your doctor or genetic counselor about your personal and family medical history to better understand your risks. In the interaction with the doctor, you can ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have about how DNA tests are performed or if you have any doubts about how DNA tests work.
You should discuss the decision to have genetic testing with your family. By having these conversations before genetic testing, you can learn about how your family will react to your test results and how it will affect them.
Not all health insurance companies cover the cost of genetic testing. Therefore, check with your insurance company what costs will be covered before getting a genetic test done.
How Is DNA Test Performed?
Depending on the type of genetic test, a sample of blood, skin, amniotic fluid, or other tissue is taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Here are the different ways how DNA test is performed:
- Collection Of Blood Sample: A member of the medical team will insert a needle into a vein in your arm to take a blood sample. Newborn screening involves taking a blood sample by pricking the baby’s heel.
- Cheek Swab: For some tests, a swab is taken from the inside of the cheek for genetic testing.
- Amniocentesis: For this prenatal genetic test, a doctor inserts a thin, hollow needle through the abdomen into the uterus and removes a small amount of amniotic fluid for testing.
- Chorionic Villus Biopsy: For this prenatal genetic test, a doctor takes a tissue sample from the placenta. Depending on the situation, a tube (catheter) is used to take a sample from the cervix, or a fine needle is used to take a sample from the abdomen and uterus.
Now that you are familiar with the different ways how a DNA test gets performed, you can choose a method that bests suits you as an individual.
Genetic Testing At Home | First Response Healthcare
First Response Healthcare (FRH) is a JCI-accredited home healthcare company in Dubai that provides the option of Genetic Testing at home. FRH offers the most comprehensive DNA test at home wherein your DNA can be tested to unlock up to 500 reports of insights that include Vital, Health, Family Planning, and also your genetic response to 100+ drugs. Know about how DNA tests work in finding out your ancestry or get reports related to your diet, the choice is yours to make. With detailed ancestry DNA reports get to know about the original background and get connected to your real identity at the comfort of your home. FRH’s reports of genetic testing at home come with personalized action items & recommendations by a team of certified and experienced medical professionals.
Our Comprehensive Genetic Testing At Home Can Give You
Diet & Nutrition Reports
35 test items – Discover your optimal diet type and nutritional needs such as carb and fat sensitivity, vitamin B6, B12, and omega 3 levels.
Sports & Fitness Reports
18 test items – Find out about your optimal fitness potential by understanding your genetic strength profile, capacity, injury risk, and other health-related factors.
Cancer Reports
36 test items – Assess your risk for common hereditary cancers such as breast, colon, and prostate cancer, and help you make informed health decisions.
Health Risk & Disease Reports
73 test items – Discover common health risks and the risk of developing other diseases such as hypertension and osteoporosis and mitigate them with preventative clinical action plans.
Dementia & Brain Health Reports
6 test items – Plan, prepare and protect your future by understanding how your DNA is linked to brain diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Family Planning Reports
Get to know and analyze your carrier status across 157 hereditary conditions, before becoming a parent, including Cystic Fibrosis, Deafness, among others.
Drug Response Reports
Know about your body’s genetic receptibility to 103 FDA-approved drugs, and narrow down medications that may be more effective for you.
Stress & Sleep Reports
8 test items – Get personalized action items including stress tolerance, sleep depth & sleep quality to manage stress and sleep better.
Skin Reports
14 test items – Get more insights about your skin in relation to skin elasticity, wrinkle formation, whitening ability and more.
Traits & Talents Reports
37 test items – Get to know yourself more deeply by finding out about your genetic physical, behavioral, personality, and other traits.
Well-Being & Pollution Sensitivity Reports
12 test items – Unlock genetic insights into key body functions such as metabolic response, appetite control, and dust allergies for optimal health and vitality.
Ancestry Reports
Discover your lineage and reconnect with your roots with the DNA Ancestry Test to discover how your unique self was born. Getting an ancestry DNA test can help you pinpoint a geographical location about where your DNA first originated. Get to know the last three major migrations of your DNA through an ancestry DNA test. Get to know your ancestors and their origin through our detailed ancestry reports enabled by our DNA tests. Update your family tree and prevent any possible risks through the use of our ancestry DNA testing reports.
Health Coaching
Free 30-minute consultation with a health coach trained in genetics.
Genetic Counseling
Free 30 minute consultation with a certified genetic counselor.
Mobile + PDF Reports
Access DNA results via mobile app and PDF report
Features That Make FRH Different
- You can book an appointment with us at any time 24/7 365 days a year, even on weekends and public holidays.
- We arrive the fastest, within 30* minutes after you call us.
- Our services cover the entire Emirate of Dubai
- Our team can visit you at your home, hotel, or office.
- To make an appointment, you can simply call on 0505050 387 or 800DIALDOC
To avail of services of genetic testing at home or DNA test in Dubai, you can contact First Response Healthcare by calling on 0505050387 or 800DIALDOC. You can also book an appointment by visiting our website.
