Genetic counselling and testing in the area of preventive medical check-ups

Precautionary genetic tests offer healthy adults – including those without a distinct personal or family history of illness – the opportunity to find out which health risks they carry and how their genes could possibly affect their health in the future.

Precautionary genetic testing includes the most relevant genes found in cancers (oncogenetics) or cardiovascular disease (cardiogenetics), for example. It also looks at the way in which genes affect the way a person responds to medication (pharmacogenetics) and studies the genes that cause the most frequent hereditary diseases when the status of the gene is changed (recessive hereditary diseases). 

In addition, the risk of more specific diseases can also be analysed, such as the risk of metabolic disorders (haemochromatosis or MODY diabetes) or neuromuscular disorders. Depending on the situation, a test may be proposed for all of the hereditary diseases associated with the gene – this is known as clinical exome sequencing.

Together with the attending physician, the experts assess the added value of genetic analysis for the person concerned during the first counselling session. The following factors, among others, play a role in this assessment:

• Healthy persons suspected of having a hereditary disease in their family.
• Persons who are interested in their genetic predisposition so that they can initiate preventive measures at an early stage.
• Persons who want to know whether they are at an increased risk of falling ill with a hereditary condition due to their genes or of passing on the gene responsible for the particular condition.
• Persons who want to have a certain level of health security. 
• Extensive genetic counselling and a comprehensive family history before the test are essential, as is the counselling session after the test to discuss the results.

1. Initial consultation between the attending physician or Precise expert and the patient to discuss the genes to be tested and to explain the patient’s rights. At the end of the consultation, written consent is given and the blood sample is taken.
2. Genetic analysis incl. evaluation in the Precise laboratory and writing of a clinically oriented report of findings.
3. Second consultation between the attending physician or Precise expert and the patient to discuss the findings, incl. classification of the findings in the overall treatment process and discussion of suitable preventive measures and/or treatment options.

Genetic counselling is covered by the basic insurance as a normal medical consultation and is billed via Tarmed. In the area of prevention, the costs of a genetic analysis are not covered by the basic insurance. Certain supplementary insurances cover them as an innovation factor. Contact your health insurance for more detailed information on cost coverage.