Carrier Status FAQ
A carrier status study is about analyzing a person's genetic makeup to determine if they carry gene mutations associated with inherited conditions. While the person may not show symptoms, they can still pass these genes to their children, possibly causing the condition. These reports are important for family planning and understanding genetic risks.
Knowing your carrier status is valuable when you want to start a family.
What do the Carrier Status reports provide?
A Carrier Status report provides information about whether a person carries genetic mutations for specific inherited conditions. SelfDecode provides carrier status for 40 genetically inherited diseases. Reports typically includes:
- Carrier status: indicates if you are a carrier for certain genetic conditions, meaning you have a mutation in one copy of the gene
- Condition details: describes the genetic condition
- Genetic variants: key genetic variants impacting your carrier status result
- Next steps: offers guidance on genetic counseling to interpret the results and understand possible next steps
How do I interpret the Carrier Status reports?
A carrier is a person who does not have a disease, but carries a variant for the disease which they can pass on to their children.
When both parents are carriers for the same genetic disease, there is a chance that their child will inherit two variants, one from each parent, and will have the disease.
You may get the following results for your carrier status reports:
Are there any limitations to the Carrier Status reports?
- Individuals from certain ethnic backgrounds are more likely to carry specific genetic conditions. As a result, some reports may be more applicable or relevant to certain ethnic groups than others.In each report, we specify the most affected ethnicities
- We currently only test for only 40 genetic conditions, so not all possible inherited disorders are covered
- Genetic diseases tend to be rare, which is why the information each report provides is limited by how well studied the genetic condition is for particular ethnicities
- These reports are not diagnostic for any health conditions and can't be used to make any medical decisions
Can this report identify all my genetic variants associated with the condition?
No, the reports does not look at all possible variants associated with this condition. This may be because those variants are rare, insufficiently researched, or not available on our genotyping platform.
Can I see a sample Carrier Status report?
Of course! Email support@selfdecode.com to request a sample carrier status report.
Help your clients plan confidently for a healthy family future. For instructions on how to order a Carrier Status report for your clients, click here.