Carrier screening assesses your risk of passing on certain genetic conditions to your children. This test is for anyone who is currently pregnant, considering pregnancy, or planning to become pregnant in the future.

Even without symptoms or a family history of disease, individuals may carry a risk of passing conditions on to their offspring. Beacon can illuminate that risk, leading to more informed decision-making and stronger preparation for your reproductive journey.

Beacon's Expanded Panels screen for more than 700 recessive and X-linked conditions, so both common and uncommon risks are covered for people of all ethnic backgrounds

AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE INHERITANCE

People are typically born with two copies of each gene — one copy is inherited from our biological mother (egg source) and one from our biological father (sperm source). Autosomal recessive conditions will only manifest if both copies of the same gene carry a disease-causing variant.
 

If both members of a reproductive couple carry a disease-causing variant in the same gene, they are considered “carriers,” and are typically healthy. However, each pregnancy for the couple has a 1 in 4 (25%) chance to have an affected child. If one member of a reproductive couple is found to be a carrier for an autosomal recessive condition, testing for their partner or egg/sperm donor is recommended to determine their child’s risk.