Carrier screening and testing

A carrier is a person who can pass a genetic disease on to their children. Carrier screening is a type of genetic test. It can help show whether people are likely to pass on certain genetic diseases to their children. This type of test can guide a couple's decision about having children and making choices about genetic tests during a pregnancy.

You can be tested to see if you or your partner might pass down gene changes to your child. You may be tested for:

• Inherited blood disorders. This group of conditions affects red blood cells. It includes sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Sickle cell disease occurs most often in people of African background. Thalassemia occurs most often in those of Asian, African, or Mediterranean backgrounds.
• Cystic fibrosis. This is much more common in non-Hispanic white people than in people of other races and backgrounds.
• Tay-Sachs disease. This is more common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish, French-Canadian, or Cajun backgrounds.
• Diseases that occur more often in people of Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish backgrounds. These include cystic fibrosis and Tay-Sachs. They also include Gaucher disease, Canavan disease, familial dysautonomia, and others.