YES! Preconception carrier screening is recommended for Jewish individuals of all backgrounds, not just for Ashkenazis. This includes individuals of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish descents, whose ancestors populated many diverse countries in Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East following dispersion from Israel in ancient times.* Genetic mutations in Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews are highly

The simplest answer to this question is that there is no magic number. We used to offer limited testing for specific diseases based on a person’s ethnicity. However, we have learned that this can be problematic—many people do not know their precise ethnic origins, and many diseases can be found in multiple ethnicities. Given this,

Some people think that they are nothing like their siblings, or may notice many differences in looks and behaviors. This is partly because siblings don’t share all the same genes. So, if your brother or sister tested negative on a carrier screening test, it does not guarantee that you will also test negative. It is

Both JScreen and 23andMe offer carrier screening – tests to identify parents who are at risk to have a child with a genetic condition – but the screening differs in several ways (see table below). JScreen’s carrier screening is more comprehensive and includes genetic counseling, so patients can understand their results. Carrier screening offered by

The DNA in our blood is the same as the DNA in our saliva. For convenience, the JScreen test is usually done on saliva, and is just as accurate as testing on DNA from blood. The JScreen test uses next generation sequencing (NGS) technology, ensuring very high carrier detection rates for most of the diseases

Your doctor may be able to order testing, but here are some things to consider: Often, disease panels offered in doctor’s offices are very limited and only include a handful of diseases. Make sure you are getting a comprehensive and current panel. Unless they specialize in genetics, most physicians aren’t experts in the area and

We believe that all medical results should be interpreted and disclosed by a medical professional, and that genetics results would certainly be included in this. Genetic counselors know how to break down complex genetic information, to explain the “ins and outs” of genetic tests, and to debunk misconceptions people have about genetic health. They are

Don’t assume your parents were tested appropriately, especially if this testing was not done recently. While most cases of cancer are not hereditary, there are multiple genes and genetic changes that can increase the risk for cancer, and testing options improve over time. If there is a family history of cancer, check if your parents’

While many of the diseases on the JScreen panel are more common in Jewish individuals (even those with only one Jewish grandparent), they are not exclusive to those with Jewish backgrounds. For example, Tay-Sachs disease and Cystic Fibrosis are not only common in Ashkenazi Jews, but they are also prevalent in the French-Canadian population. People