What kinds of genetic tests are there?
Genetic tests can be divided into three general categories depending on their purpose:
- Diagnostic tests: These tests are mainly used to find the cause of an existing disease.
- Predictive tests: These tests are used to determine whether a person has certain metabolic characteristics that, for instance, influence the effectiveness of a drug, or that may lead to the development of a disease in conjunction with certain environmental factors. Predictive tests can help to plan treatment.
- Prognostic tests: These help to predict your risk of getting a disease in the future. They can also indicate the likelihood of a genetic trait or a condition being inherited by your children.
Genetic testing isn't only used for medical purposes. It is also used in forensics and paternity testing.