Genetic testing can tell us a whole host of information. It can tell us about predispositions to developing cancers. It can tell us about
predispositions to developing cardiac disease neurologic disease. It's oftentimes used as
explanations for why there is developmental delay in a child for instance. So we can get a lot of
information from genetic testing and being thoughtful about the testing that is ordered to help us answer the questions that we're asking is a really important part of genetic counseling. Genetic testing can often be done on a simple blood draw. So the process of genetic
testing is not necessarily that complicated but it's interpreting the results and then translating those to clinical recommendations where genetic counselors can really be instrumental in making that transition. We actually have about an hour with all of our patients so we can really go into much greater depth of family and medical histories than other providers are able to go. We also have a very complex understanding of the genetics behind certain conditions as
well as the most appropriate testing options that are out on the market so we can really help patients and families figure out what makes sense both from an information standpoint as well
as a cost-effective standpoint. Genetics can make people nervous understandably because we are talking about family history in your DNA and we can't change your DNA so if we do testing and find something in your DNA it can be a very jarring experience for individuals and families. So some people when they go through the genetic counseling appointment don't want to do
genetic testing or don't even want to come to genetic counseling in the first place. However we always try to encourage people to at least come and have a conversation with us because that's what genetic counseling is is it's really just a conversation.