Genes are small sections of DNA that provide the instructions that give us our individual characteristics. Our genes determine the colour of our eyes and hair, our height and other physical characteristics. Genetic testing looks at variations in these genes that determine whether you might be predisposed to certain diseases.

Our cancer and cardiac genetic screening tests over 140 gene variants that can predispose to potential diseases. Importantly, all of these gene variants can be acted upon to help prevent or reduce the risk of the condition. 

Providing a DNA sample is very simple. Saliva samples are usually all that is needed. 

Your sample is then sent by your doctor to the genetic testing laboratory in the US where it undergoes advanced sequencing. The highly-trained clinical team at the laboratory then passes on the results to your doctor.

We only use medical-grade genetic testing. We use a leading American laboratory, Invitae, who are College of American Pathologists (CAP)-accredited and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified clinical diagnostic laboratory, offering panel and single-gene genetic tests as well as exome analysis. They have tested over 2,000,000 patients worldwide.

Invitae’s assay for panel and single-gene tests includes both full-gene sequencing and deletion/duplication analysis using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS). This is the most accurate method. Some online DNA testing and family history companies use other methods such ‘genotyping’; this leads to more common false positive and negative results. They can be fun and quick to use but are not meant to guide medical decisions or healthcare.

Once your sample has been taken by your doctor the results will be available in two to four weeks.

The Association of British insurers and the British Medical Association have agreed on a set of questions that insurers can ask your GP when you apply for life insurance. Your GP will be asked about any medical condition that you have suffered in the past or are currently experiencing that may reduce your life expectancy. In the application form, your GP is instructed to not include the result of any genetic testing.

There are three possible outcomes from our genetic testing:

Negative, positive, and carrier status.

If the result is negative it means that the test did not pick up any genes that increase the risk of disease. It doesn’t mean that you will never develop one of the conditions tested for, as there are many other factors aside from genes that can contribute to developing a disease. As we learn more about genetics and disease, it may be that your test results in the future will be updated to reflect new medical information. If this is the case, we will inform you immediately. 

About one in six people will have a positive result in the cancer and cardiac genetic screening. This means that our lab has discovered a gene variant that increases the risk of you developing a certain medical condition. You will then be able to work with your doctor to determine what the next steps are for you. This may include options to prevent disease or increased surveillance to detect the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage. 

You may also receive a result that shows that you are a carrier of a condition. This does not increase your risk of having the condition but it does mean that you may pass it on to your children. If you have children or are planning to have children then they may be at risk of having the condition if your partner also has the condition.

We ensure the highest level of security for your personal information. Full details of our privacy policy are available here. We use our patient portal to securely share copies of your results by email. We can use an alternative method of communication if you wish – just let us know. Genetic laboratory testing is provided by Invitae. They will receive your personal information and abide by UK laws of privacy. They may use de-identified or anonymised information for research or commercial activities. Full details of their privacy policy are available here. Once you complete your sample, you will receive your personal login to Invitae’s patient portal. You may set your information sharing preferences in the portal or by emailing privacy@invitae.com at any time. It is important that Invitae have your contact information so they can share with you any new updates in medical research that may impact your results.

We only use medical-grade genetic testing. We use a leading American laboratory, Invitae, who are College of American Pathologists (CAP)-accredited and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified clinical diagnostic laboratory, offering panel and single-gene genetic tests as well as exome analysis. They have tested over 2,000,000 patients worldwide.

Invitae’s assay for panel and single-gene tests includes both full-gene sequencing and deletion/duplication analysis using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS). This is the most accurate method. Some online DNA testing and family history companies use other methods such ‘genotyping’; this leads to more common false positive and negative results. They can be fun and quick to use but are not meant to guide medical decisions or healthcare.

Cancer Genetic Screening – £550

Cardiac Genetic Screening – £550

Complete Genetic Health Screening – £650

Fees include a doctor consultation to discuss the test and your questions, sample laboratory analysis, and a follow-up consultation to discuss your results.

Full List of Genes Tested

APC ATM AXIN2

BAP1 BARD1 BMPR1A

BRCA1 BRCA2 BRIP1

CDC73 CDH1 CDK4

CDKN2A CHEK2 DICER1

EPCAM FH FLCN

GREM1 HOXB13 KIT

MAX MEN1 MET

MITF MLH1 MSH2

MSH3 MSH6 MUTYH

NBN NF1 NF2

NTHL1 PALB2 PDGFRA

PMS2 POLD1 POLE

PRKAR1A PTCH1 PTEN

RAD51C RAD51D RB1

RET SDHA SDHAF2

SDHB SDHC SDHD

SMAD4 SMARCA4 SMARCB1

STK11 TMEM127 TP53

TSC1 TSC2 VHL

WT1

Full List Of Genes Tested

ACTA2 ACTC1 ACTN2

ACVRL1 APOB BAG3

BMPR2 CACNA1C CACNB2

CALM1 CALM2 CALM3

CASQ2 CAV1 CAV3

COL3A1 CRYAB CSRP3

DES DMD DSC2

DSG2 DSP EMD

ENG F2 F5

F9 FBN1 FHL1

FLNC GDF2 GLA

GPD1L HCN4 JUP

KCNE1 KCNE2 KCNH2

KCNJ2 KCNQ1 LAMP2

LDLR LDLRAP1 LMNA

MYBPC3 MYH11 MYH7

MYL2 MYL3 MYLK

NKX2-5 PCSK9 PKP2

PLN PRKAG2 PRKG1

PROC PROS1 RBM20

RYR2 SCN5A SERPINC1

SGCD SMAD3 SMAD4

TCAP TGFB2 TGFB3

TGFBR1 TGFBR2 TMEM43

TNNC1 TNNI3 TNNT2

TPM1 VCL

Full List Of Genes Tested

ACTA2 ACTC1 ACTN2

ACVRL1 APC APOB

ATM ATP7B AXIN2

BAG3 BAP1 BARD1

BMPR1A BMPR2 BRCA1

BRCA2 BRIP1 CACNA1C

CACNA1S CACNB2 CALM1

CALM2 CALM3 CASQ2

CAV1 CAV3 CDC73

CDH1 CDK4 CDKN2A

CHEK2 COL3A1 CRYAB

CSRP3 DES DICER1

DMD DSC2 DSG2

DSP EMD ENG

EPCAM F2 F5

F9 FBN1 FH

FHL1 FLCN FLNC

GDF2 GLA GPD1L

GREM1 HAMP HCN4

HFE HJV HOXB13

JUP KCNE1 KCNE2

KCNH2 KCNJ2 KCNQ1

KIT LAMP2 LDLR

LDLRAP1 LMNA MAX

MEN1 MET MITF

MLH1 MSH2 MSH3

MSH6 MUTYH MYBPC3

MYH11 MYH7 MYL2

MYL3 MYLK NBN

NF1 NF2 NKX2-5

NTHL1 OTC PALB2

PCSK9 PDGFRA PKP2

PLN PMS2 POLD1

POLE PRKAG2 PRKAR1A

PRKG1 PROC PROS1

PTCH1 PTEN RAD51C

RAD51D RB1 RBM20

RET RYR1 RYR2

SCN5A SDHA SDHAF2

SDHB SDHC SDHD

SERPINA1 SERPINC1 SGCD

SLC40A1 SMAD3 SMAD4

SMARCA4 SMARCB1 STK11

TCAP TFR2 TGFB2

TGFB3 TGFBR1 TGFBR2

TMEM127 TMEM43 TNNC1

TNNI3 TNNT2 TP53

TPM1 TSC1 TSC2

VCL VHL WT1