Commercial Genetic Testing?

[Tj1974]

Hello, I have two questions regarding genetic testing:

1 Is it possible to get genetic testing without a doctor’s referral/prescription in the US?
2. Does testing search all known genetic concerns for all diseases? Or is it focused on a few targets?

Many thanks!

 

[lgelb]

Not legally (at the clinical level, though various commercial firms will sell you panels of this and that for "propensities")/tests are ordered to look at specific genes, either alone or in a panel. We are very far from knowing all the possible genetic factors that influence disease, let alone a cost-effective way to test for all of them at once. It is important to note that for many conditions, having a certain allele (part of your "genotype") does not mean you will "get" the condition most often associated with that allele ("phenotype").

If you have specific concerns about your family history, most academic medical centers have genetic counselors on staff, and some members here are knowledgeable of familial forms of ALS.