Genetic Testing and Genetic Counseling

Our Center for Precision Diagnostics specializes in analyzing your unique genetic (DNA and RNA) profile to find any abnormalities or mutations using precision (personalized) tools.
The information gathered at the center allows our genetic counselors to gain deep, individual insights that allow us to create tailored, highly accurate treatment strategies.

We are proud that our genetic testing services help train medical residents 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.

Genetic testing and screening use a sample of your blood or saliva to identify abnormalities, mutations or changes at the genetic (DNA) level. These tests or screens can:

• Find 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 test results are reviewed by one of our genetic counselors and explained in an appointment setting to discuss potential treatment options, what the results mean you and potentially your family and more. More information about genetic counseling appointments for our three main areas below (reproduction, cancer and cardiovascular) can be found on this page below.

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 of the genetic testing for these patients include tests for:

• Genetic conditions based on ancestry or for gene carrier screening to determine risk to have a child with a genetic condition
  • Examples: sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.
• Genetic conditions like Down syndrome, which may include maternal serum screening or other more advanced testing
• Neural tube defects (spina bifida, water on the brain)
• Congenital heart defects
• Pregnancies at-risk for a heritable condition (based on parental genetic test results)
• Exposure to a variety of potential toxins that can harm the fetus, also called teratogen risk assessment
  • This testing measures toxins found in chemical pollutants (lead, mercury, pesticides, etc.), lifestyle substances (alcohol, nicotine and recreational drugs), infectious diseases (rubella, syphilis, herpes, HIV, etc.) and other maternal factors (nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, stress, etc.)

If a birth defect has been diagnosed or a genetic testing is abnormal during pregnancy, our team provides genetic counseling to review the results mean and what additional steps can be taken to find out more information. We can also discuss the chance that a condition would happen again in a family if there is a family history.

We offer hereditary 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

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

Most cancer happens by chance or environmental exposure, but in approximately 5-10% of cases of families with cancer, there can be a genetic predisposition to develop cancer.

We see patients to review their personal and family cancer history to discuss cancer genetic testing or patients with a positive test result ordered by another provider.

At a cancer genetic counseling appointment, you can learn more about:

• genetic testing and screening
• possible prevention
• early detection
• possible treatment options.

If genetic testing is performed, the results are shared and discussed with you during a follow-up visit. The results will help you and your care team decide what treatment options are best for you.

Our team sees patients for cardiovascular genetic counseling to order testing or discuss positive test results for cardiovascular genetic conditions, including:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a thickening/stiffening of one of the main chambers of the heart (ventricles), which can cause the heart to struggle to relax and fill with blood.
• Long QT syndrome: a rhythm disorder that causes a delayed recharge between heartbeats, which can hinder blood flow to the brain.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy: an enlarged, thin-walled main chamber of the heart that cannot pump blood effectively.
• Vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which can be associated with risks of aneurysm (an abnormal, thin or weak area of an artery).*
• And more

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

*There are multiple forms of Ehlers Danlos syndrome. Forms like hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome do not have an identified genetic cause. Therefore, our team does not see patients with a suspected diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome.