You can take gene tests so that you can:
- Learn your risk for a certain disease, particularly one that runs in your family (like cancer, diabetes) and what to do before you have symptoms
- Find out if you, your child, or any other family member has a genetic condition
- Know what you can do to lower your risk of having it, preventing a disease, or managing it if you already have the disease
Whether it yields positive or negative results, genetic tests are helpful. If you receive a negative result, it can provide relief, stop needless worrying, and help you be more proactive in managing your health. In some cases, it also eliminates the need for other unnecessary tests.
On the other hand, having a positive result can help you prevent the development of disease and monitor your well-being. It may also help you and your medical team focus on personalized treatment plans and medications that can optimize your health. For newborns, it identifies genetic disorders early on. This helps ensure that the child can get treatment as early as possible.