Preconception genetic carrier screening in Las Vegas: what it is and who it’s for

Some genetic conditions can be passed from parent to child without either parent knowing they carry the gene. Preconception genetic carrier screening gives you that information before you conceive — so you can make informed decisions about your reproductive options.

The Fertility Center of Las Vegas offers carrier screening through the Natera Horizon 613 Condition Panel — one of the most comprehensive carrier screening tests available, screening for over 600 conditions from a single blood or saliva sample. Other widely used carrier screening tests include Invitae, Myriad Foresight, and GeneDx, among others. Your doctor will discuss which panel is most appropriate for your situation.

What is preconception genetic carrier screening?

Preconception carrier screening is a genetic test performed before trying to conceive. It determines whether you carry a gene mutation for a specific hereditary condition — even if you have no symptoms and no known family history of the condition.
The name describes exactly what it does:

• Preconception means it’s done before pregnancy.
• Carrier refers to someone whose cells contain a gene mutation for an inheritable condition;.
• Screening means the test can identify carriers without any symptoms being present.

Getting carrier screening before pregnancy gives you time to understand your results, decide whether your partner should also be tested, and consider your options before conception.

Who should consider genetic carrier screening?

Each person has two copies of every gene — one inherited from each biological parent. A carrier has a mutation in one copy of a gene, while the other copy is normal. Carriers are typically healthy and often unaware they carry a mutation until they’re tested. Carrier screening through our Las Vegas fertility clinic can help identify people who are carriers of a genetic disorder, such as cystic fibrosis or spinal muscular atrophy.

Carrier screening can be valuable for patients who:

• Are planning a pregnancy or about to start fertility treatment
• Have a family history of a hereditary genetic condition
• Have a partner who is already known to be a carrier of a specific condition
• Have limited or no information about their family medical history
• Have been advised by their fertility specialist or a genetic counselor to undergo this type of screening

Many carriers have no family history of the condition at all — which is one of the strongest reasons to consider screening proactively rather than waiting for a reason to test.

What inheritable genetic conditions/illnesses can carrier screening identify?

The Natera Horizon carrier screening that our Las Vegas fertility doctors use screens for over 600 genetic conditions, including:

• Cystic fibrosis
• Fragile X syndrome
• Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
• Canavan syndrome
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Tay-Sachs disease
• And many others

Other panels such as Invitae, Myriad Foresight, and GeneDx may screen for overlapping or additional conditions depending on the panel selected. Your doctor at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas will discuss which option is most appropriate based on your background and medical history.

How does genetic carrier screening work?

Getting a sample for carrier screening is a quick and simple process. Depending on the test selected, your specialist will use one of two approaches:

• Blood draw: a small sample is taken from a vein in your arm.
• Saliva collection: a small amount of saliva is collected in a tube designed for this purpose.

The sample is then sent to the laboratory, where the DNA is extracted from the cells and analyzed for specific gene variants associated with hereditary conditions. Advanced sequencing technology allows the lab to screen hundreds of conditions from a single sample.

What happens after genetic carrier screening?

After your genetic carrier screening, results are typically available within 10 to 21 days. Your carrier screening results report will show whether you are positive or negative for each condition included in the panel:

• A positive result means you carry a gene mutation for a specific condition. This usually has no effect on your own health, but it does mean there is an increased chance of passing the condition to a biological child.
• A negative result means no mutation was detected for the conditions included in the panel.

If you or your partner test positive, your doctor can refer you to a certified genetic counselor who can explain your results in detail and walk you through your reproductive options.

For example, if both partners are found to be carriers for cystic fibrosis, you might consider in vitro fertilization (IVF) combined with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-M) to test embryos for the condition before transfer. Alternatively, using an egg or sperm donor who is not a carrier is another option your doctor can discuss with you.

Our team and a genetic counselor can give you the information you need and support you through these decisions.

Ready to get started? We’re here

If you’re planning a pregnancy or about to begin fertility treatment and want to understand your genetic carrier status, contact us to schedule a consultation at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas. Our team will walk you through your options.