What is carrier screening?
Carrier screening is used to identify people who carry one copy of a hidden gene that, when present in two copies, (e.g. inherited from both parents), causes a genetic disorder. This type of screening is designed for healthy people who have no symptoms of disease, but who are known to be at high risk because of family history or because they belong to an ethnic group with an increased risk of specific genetic conditions (such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and Tay Sachs disease). When both parents are tested, the test results can provide information about a couple’s risk of having a child with a genetic condition.
