Genetic Testing and Genetic Counseling

Our Center for Precision Diagnostics laboratory specializes in analyzing your unique genetic (DNA) profile to find abnormalities or mutations using precision (personalized) tools.

The information gathered from the laboratory testing allows our genetic counselors to gain deep, individual insights that allow your care team to create highly tailored treatment strategies.

We are proud that our genetic testing services help train PhD fellows through our Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellowship.

This program aims to develop highly skilled clinical laboratory geneticists who are committed to lifelong learning and serving the diverse Michigan community by delivering precise and personalized genetic testing results. Through these efforts, the program contributes to the overarching mission of Henry Ford Hospital to enhance people's lives through excellence in healthcare and healing.

We receive referrals from providers specializing in maternal and fetal medicine for a variety of reasons. This can include factors like:

• Maternal age (typically age 35 or older)
• Abnormal ultrasound/screening results (typically following initial first trimester screenings or following anatomy scans during the second trimester)
• Family history or known parental genetic conditions
• And more

More information on specific conditions we provide genetic counseling and testing for can be found further on this page under the prenatal and pre-conception genetic counseling section.

We partner with your cancer care team and collaborate as part of Henry Ford Health’s personalized approach to cancer treatment, also called precision medicine. This includes participating in our 15-disease specific tumor boards — internal forums where specialists from across cancer treatment areas evaluate each patient’s case individually.

Your genetics can play a role in your cancer care. Cancer genetic tests can give your care team insights about:

• The likelihood of developing certain cancers
  • Approximately 5-10% of cancer cases can be linked to a genetic predisposition
• Your cancer’s growth patterns
  • The speed cancer cells multiply and/or spread
• How you will respond to treatment
  • This allows your care team to fight your cancer with the least invasive, most effective options

Henry Ford Health also has a specialized Cancer Genetics Program for certain cancers. More information about the program can be found on this page under the cancer genetic counseling section.

Henry Ford Health also has a specialized Cancer Genetics Program for certain cancers. More information about the program can be found on this page under the cancer genetic counseling section.

Genetic counseling helps you and your family process, understand and adapt to the medical and emotional implications following genetic testing and screening results. This allows you to make informed decisions about potential treatments and manage your health risks.

More information about genetic counseling for our three main areas (prenatal/preconception, cancer and cardiovascular) can be found further down on this page.

Genetic testing discovers what your unique genetic makeup can tell us about diseases or conditions you have, the likelihood of a diagnosis in your future, if you can pass something on and, in some cases, how you will respond to care.

Genetic testing and screening use a sample of your blood or saliva to identify changes in genetic information or DNA, also called mutations. These tests or screens can:

• Diagnose disease
• Predict future disease
• Determine if you are a carrier for hereditary (inheritable) conditions
• Guide your treatment strategies

Our board-certified geneticists provide testing services for a variety of conditions and diseases for cancer patients, individuals and couples considering pregnancy or who are pregnant, cardiovascular conditions, rare diseases and more.

Your genetic test results will be explained by a member of our genetics care team to review what results mean for you and your family.

We offer a wide range of services for individuals and couples who are considering pregnancy, who are currently pregnant or those with unexplained infertility or previous miscarriages or stillbirth.

Some genetic testing options:

• Genetic carrier screening to determine chance to have a child with a genetic condition
  
  • Some conditions have increased rock due to ancestry such as sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.
• Chromosomal conditions, like Down syndrome (multiple testing options available)
• Neural tube defects (spina bifida, water on the brain)
• Congenital heart defects or other birth defects
• Pregnancies at-risk for a heritable condition

If a genetic test is abnormal during pregnancy, our team provides genetic counseling to review the results mean and what additional steps can be taken. We can also discuss the chance that a condition would happen again in a family. We may also refer you to other specialists for additional care.

We offer cancer genetic counseling to patients with a personal and/or family history of cancer through the Henry Ford Health Cancer Genetics Program for the following cancers:

• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Gastric cancer, including hereditary diffuse gastric cancer
• Melanoma
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN 1 and 2)
• Ovarian cancer
• Von-Hippel Lindau disease
• And other rare cancers

Learn more about Henry Ford Health’s Cancer Genetics Program.

Most cancer happens by chance, but in some families, there can be a genetic family predisposition.

During your visit we will review personal and family history information, perform a cancer risk assessment and discuss the option for cancer genetic testing. You will be contacted to review the results.

If you already had cancer genetic testing ordered, we can review those results during an appointment.

Our team sees patients for specific cardiovascular indications (genetic counseling and test ordering or previously test results review), including but not limited to:

• Cardiomyopathies (Hypertrophic, dilated, arrhythmogenic, and restrictive cardiomyopathy)
• Arrhythmias (Long QT, Short QT, Brugada, Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia)
• Aortic Aneurysms
• Familial Hypercholesterolemia
• Consider if diagnosed with atrial fibrillation <45 and unexplained cardiac arrest

Some cardiovascular genetic conditions are associated with specific physical traits, so a physical examination is often necessary. In these cases, virtual genetic counseling appointments are not available.