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Clinical Genetics and Genomics Program
Our Approach
Our DNA plays an important role in our health, and understanding genetic risks can be the first step in preventing disease. The Providence Clinical Genetics and Genomics Program can help you understand how genetics influence your health and ease uncertainty and anxiety. We focus on risk assessment, which helps us detect disease early and create a personalized plan to help reduce your risk of disease.
Our licensed, board-certified genetic counselors and physician specialists (medical geneticists) accurately interpret genetic test results and diagnose complex diseases. With our program, you can expect the information you need and the compassionate, respectful care you deserve.
Providence Genomics now offers Galleri® MCED testing. This test can help detect cancer signals across 50 types of cancer from a single blood draw using innovative technology that has been extensively tested.
What to Expect
Before your appointment, you will be asked to complete questionnaires about your personal and family medical history. In some cases, medical records will be needed. Your risk assessment will be based on several factors, including the information you provide.
During your visit, we will:
- Document your personal and family medical history and build your medical family tree.
- Discuss your risk of certain medical conditions based on your personal and family medical history, a physical exam and data such as risk models.
- Offer genetic testing if your history suggests you are at risk of a hereditary disease. Testing is done through a blood or saliva sample. If you are tested, we will talk again in a few weeks to discuss the results.
- Develop a personal risk reduction plan.
- Discuss important issues, such as who else in your family may benefit from this information.
Having a genetic consultation will help you understand the actual disease risks you face. If testing reveals that you are at high risk, our team will explain options to reduce that risk and steps for early detection. If results show you are not at high risk of a hereditary disease, you can have some peace of mind.
Same-day genetic testing services are available at some locations during a mammogram visit or as part of cancer care at Providence. We also offer telemedicine appointments to our patients throughout California.
Browse Our Genetics and Genomics Services
Our genetic and genomics testing services include:
- Testing for adults with a personal or family history of inherited cancer, cardiovascular and neurologic diseases and other conditions.
- Cell free DNA testing, often called MCED testing, a new technology that can screen for multiple cancers and many times predict where in the body the cancer signal is located.
- Consultations on pharmacogenomics (PGx), which aims to personalize medical treatment based on how your DNA and body respond to drugs.
- Whole genome testing, which creates a comprehensive map of a person’s genetic makeup and can be used to spot abnormalities in genes
- Convenient same-day genetic testing for inherited cancer risks during a mammogram visit or as part of cancer care at Providence.
- A Genomic Prevention and Wellness Clinic for individuals who want to know more about possible inherited risks that may not be obvious from their personal or family history.
- Test evaluation for individuals who have had previous genetic testing and would like an updated or expert interpretation of their results. Individuals who want updated testing or a comprehensive risk assessment can also benefit from this service.
- Opportunities to participate in clinical research studies on cancer prevention and early detection.
- Our licensed, board-certified genetic counselors and physician specialists (medical geneticists) accurately interpret genetic test results and diagnose complex diseases. With our program, you can expect the information you need and the compassionate, respectful care you deserve.
Meet the Team
At Providence, you'll have access to a vast network of dedicated and compassionate providers who offer personalized care by focusing on treatment, prevention and health education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the vast majority of patients have insurance coverage for genetic testing and genetic counseling testing. Our patient account specialists verify coverage prior to the consultation. Individuals may also check eligibility and co-pay information by calling their insurance provider.
Inherited cancer syndromes are typically due to inherited “errors” or mutations within specific genes that normally function to prevent cancer. These inherited mutations cause a loss of normal gene function and increased risks of developing certain types of cancer. About 5-10% of individuals have a cancer caused by an inherited cancer syndrome.
Hereditary cardiac conditions are typically due to inherited “errors” or mutations within specific genes that disrupt the normal growth or function of the heart and other parts of the circulatory system. These inherited mutations can cause increased risk for progressive heart disease, especially at younger ages, or even cause dangerous cardiac events and lead to sudden death. About 1 in 250 individuals have inherited heart disease.
Our genetic counselors are qualified genetics professionals for all types of inherited risks, and are prepared to discuss the risk of developing other disorders of familial concern, including hematologic and adult neurologic syndromes. They can also help interpret direct-to-consumer tests and provide clarity on the implications of results for you and your family members.
Genetic testing is just one tool that genetic counselors use to provide you with the very best in personalized medicine that genetic testing alone cannot provide. Genetic counselors are genetic experts and remain up to date on the constantly changing field of genetics. They are trained to tailor, translate, and communicate complex genetic information into practical, accurate, and understandable decision-making information that you, your relatives, and your healthcare team can use to provide the best in individualized healthcare management. For more information, schedule a genetics counseling appointment.
On average, genetic test results are available within 2-3 weeks. Possible test results include:
- Positive: A harmful mutation identified that may increase risk of developing certain conditions.
- Negative: No mutation identified.
- Variant of Unknown Significance: Genetic alteration identified, but our understanding of it is limited at this time.
Continued contact with genetic professionals is advised for many individuals who have undergone genetic counseling and/or genetic testing. Over time, new technologies are developed, new genes become available for testing, insurance criteria for testing may change making testing more accessible and management updates for mutation carriers become available. Additionally, family histories change over time making reassessment of the family history beneficial. We recommend having genetic counseling if you have significant family history and you previously had genetic testing without seeing a genetic counselor. In addition, we recommend contacting your genetic counselor every few years.
- If you previously had genetic counseling but did NOT have genetic testing: If you underwent genetic counseling without genetic testing, you may benefit from meeting with a genetic counselor again. The criteria for genetic testing have expanded, insurance companies are much more likely to cover genetic testing, and the cost of genetic testing has decreased significantly. A genetic counselor can help you review your options, order the appropriate test, and review your results and their implications.
- If you previously had genetic testing that identified a mutation (positive results): With time, more information becomes available regarding specific hereditary cancer syndromes. If your previous genetic testing identified a mutation, it is important to keep in touch with your genetic counselor periodically to review the most up to date information regarding cancer risks and management guidelines and to make sure that your previous genetic testing was comprehensive.
- If you previously had genetic testing that did not identify any mutations (negative results): With time, more hereditary cancer genes are being identified, comprehensive genetic testing is becoming more accessible, and genetic technologies are advancing. If your previous genetic testing was uninformative because it did not identify any mutations, updated genetic testing may be indicated.
- If you previously had genetic testing that identified a variant of unknown or uncertain significance (VUS): With time, more information becomes available and variants of uncertain significance may get reclassified. A genetic counselor can review the current literature and data regarding your VUS, discuss what is known, what steps may be taken to reclassify it, and recommend further genetic testing if indicated.
Genetic testing for tumor molecular profiling (somatic) is different than genetic testing for inherited cancer risk (germline). Genetic testing of cancer tissue helps to characterize the tumor while genetic testing for inherited risk helps to estimate and reduce familial cancer risk. A genetic counselor can review tumor genetic test results in conjunction with your personal and family history to help you understand your results and your risk for an inherited cancer susceptibility syndrome.
Some DTC companies, such as 23andMe and Ancestry, offer "health" tests. These tests are not diagnostic and should not be used to make medical decisions. If you previously had DTC genetic testing and were told you had an increased risk of developing a certain condition, such as cancer, a genetic counselor can review these results with you and, if indicated, order diagnostic confirmatory testing.
In addition, DTC testing is very limited, looking at a few mutations while clinical genetic testing fully analyzes those and other relevant genes. Therefore, "normal" DTC testing results do not actually rule out hereditary cancer syndromes or other hereditary risks.
Federal and state laws provide protection against genetic discrimination. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008 is a federal law that protects people from health insurance eligibility discrimination including additional fees or costs and also protects from employment discrimination. GINA does not protect against all forms of genetic discrimination and does not specify protection from other insurance discrimination such as life, disability, and long-term care. Learn more about GINA. Our genetic counselors can discuss any concerns you may have regarding genetic testing and privacy.
Clinical Genetics and Genomics Program
Same-day genetic testing services are available at our Burbank, Santa Monica and Torrance locations during a mammogram visit or as part of cancer care at Providence. We also offer telemedicine appointments to our patients throughout California.
To schedule an appointment at any of the locations below, please call 818-748-4748.