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As healthcare embraces leading-edge technology, parents of little ones want to stay up to date with the latest in health science. Genetic health screening has seen a surge in popularity- from ancestral interest to disease insights, genome sequencing is a beneficial tool to help individuals live healthier lives.
Parents only want the best for their little ones- including turning to the latest technology in DNA sequencing. Fortunately, in-depth DNA sequencing is available for children through Fore Genomics. Fore's genetic health screening provides a clinically actionable report to the child’s practitioner allowing them to interpret the child’s risk of medical conditions with a simple, non-invasive analysis of their DNA. All conditions reported by Fore can be proactively managed through increased surveillance, lifestyle, diet, and/or medication.
What is Genetic Health Screening?
Fore Genomics, a clinically-focused genetics company, has launched our genetic health screen, a leading-edge product offering clinical-grade, in-depth sequencing for the littlest patients. Focusing on newborns and children, a simple cheek swab sample provides doctors and parents with valuable genetic insight into a child’s potential for future diseases based on their DNA.
Backed by the reliability of CLIA-certified and CAP-approved labs, Fore's health screening is designed to offer a complete genetic profile of your child, unlocking a lifetime of health insights. Fore incorporates ongoing re-analysis of DNA, allowing practitioners to take practical steps toward managing any detected medical conditions.
Fore's Genetic Health Screening offers:
- Affordable payment programs
- Easy online ordering by a parent or guardian
- At-home saliva sample collection (that isn’t scary for parents or little ones)
- Sequencing in a U.S.-based CLIA/CAP laboratory
- A functional and tailored clinical report provided for parents and providers
- Analysis of over 500 medical conditions and pharmacogenetic information that can be managed early in a patient’s life
- One-on-one review and discussion of results with a U.S.-based genetic counselor
- Annual re-analysis of the child’s DNA genome sequence: because for those who have access, the clinical value of Whole Genome Sequencing will only increase over time
Why use our genetic health screening?
Piece of mind as a parent is priceless. Imagine knowing your child’s likelihood of developing hundreds of diseases and their response to medications even before symptoms appear. The technologically-advanced DNA sequencing offered by Fore does just that. Screening for medical conditions that can be managed and treated now, while your child is still young is an invaluable element to their health. By having your child’s DNA analyzed, you are providing their healthcare providers with a roadmap to actionable clinical management for future healthcare decisions.
The medical conditions that are screened for using the child’s DNA can be managed and treated in the child’s youngest years. This functionality sets Fore apart from others- the reports are practical. Fore is the only clinically-focused DNA sequencing to provide this type of service.
Whole genome sequencing versus targeted sequencing
Newborns are currently screened for a state-specified number of conditions, usually around 50 but varies by state. Although useful as a very basic screening, we know you want the most amount of information available about your little one- and that is why Fore offers whole genome sequencing. No parent wants to wonder if there’s something more they could have done for their child if they had more information.
The difference between targeted panels such as the ones supplied by the state and whole-genome sequencing is that mapping over 22,000 genes allows the entire genome to be re-analyzed each year as new medical conditions and disease sequences are discovered.
In a recent study of newborns, 70% of positive genetically actionable findings were not identified by the targeted genetic testing recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for newborn screenings.
In addition, Fore's re-analysis is designed to include child-specific information to make the clinical report more actionable. For instance, if there was a positive result for asthma on the initial screening, the subsequent re-analysis and genetic counseling can be tailored by taking into account other non-genetic information about your child, promoting a highly valuable and holistic interpretation.
Analyzing genes
As research on the human genome expands, the relationship between genes and diseases are routinely matched, enhancing the need to re-analyze the whole genome sequence on a regular basis. In comparison with targeted sequences, whole genome sequencing allows this re-analysis to keep up with fast-paced genetic discoveries.
A recent study in the European Journal of Human Genetics recommends pediatric re-analysis of the whole genome sequence every 1-2 years as new discoveries are made. With Fore, your child receives the recommended yearly re-analysis based on their one-time sample. Simply put, no additional effort is required of your child, but significant added value is provided.
Not only are parents becoming increasingly interested in newborn genetic testing, but public initiatives such as The National Institute of Health’s All of Us program strengthen the receptivity–and even the expectation– of genetic testing. The focus is on building a diverse health database by supporting ongoing research to better understand genes and their relation to diseases, which will strengthen Fore's clinical reporting.
Asthma Case Study
Having a child with asthmatic symptoms can be scary for any parent. If left untreated, a severe asthma attack can be life-threatening. The most common treatment for asthma is a glucocorticoid steroid medication. For most kids, this works. But what about the children who have a genetic variant that makes them resistant to this treatment?
It takes two weeks of treating a child with a glucocorticoid medication with no improvement in symptoms to diagnose them with glucocorticoid-resistant asthma. As a parent, seeing your child suffer for two weeks is grueling. But what if you could determine if your child is glucocorticoid-resistant prior to the arduous trial-and-error period? Eliminating the need for time-consuming and stressful medication discoveries, Fore’s genetic health screening will reveal your child’s medication resistance even before a critical occasion may arise. Knowledge is power, and the knowledge of what medications will work and which ones won’t in a time of need is invaluable.
Glucocorticoid resistance has been identified on the human genome as HSD3B1. Standard state-mandated newborn genetic testing excludes this screening, which is why Fore’s DNA analysis is a powerful tool in making healthcare decisions. Glucocorticoid-resistant asthma is only one example of how genetic testing can help prepare you and your little one for unforeseen medical conditions.
Patient privacy
We get it, providing your child’s DNA can be a scary topic. We want you to have full confidence in our patient privacy protection standards. For starters, from the moment your child’s sample is ordered, it is given a unique identification which anonymizes the DNA from the individual. Any patient identifiers are kept in separate databases for complete privacy. Secondly, all sequencing and data storage is encrypted in the U.S. in HIPAA and HITECH compliant systems. Our DNA is everywhere from our fingerprints on glassware to a shedding hair, but rest assured that your child’s DNA sequencing is secured following all state and national DNA information policies.
How does Genetic Health Screening work?
Are you concerned that your pediatrician is not an expert in genetics? That's okay! Fore provides is a comprehensive product designed to allow parents to order and collect their child’s sample for genetic testing from the comfort of their home. The results will be discussed in-depth with a U.S.-based genetic counselor, allowing you to ask any questions you may have for complete comprehension.
Testing process
With Fore, there is no painful sample collection. A simple swab from your child's cheek is all that is needed. Mail the sample back to Fore’s accredited lab in a pre-labeled and pre-paid envelope. Parents will be able to connect with Fore Genomics’s genetic counselors for an in-depth review of the results. The clinical report will be shared with your child’s healthcare team for a collaborative approach to proactively managing any medical concerns.
One-time sample
Fore sequences 100% of your child’s DNA and is designed to grow with your little one, fostering a lifelong partnership. Every year, genome sequencing technology is expanded. New findings are constantly being discovered. By already having mapped the whole genome sequence, Fore can reanalyze the genetic patterns with the benefit of all the additional knowledge gained since the sample was first sequenced. Any new actionable findings will be reported to you and your child’s healthcare providers, after a complete discussion with a genetic counselor.
The takeaway
Parents expect to use the most innovative technologies available to care for their children. Genetic health screening through Fore is one way you can take advantage of the most advanced health science available to you. Learning whether or not your child carries certain genetic variants can help shape the course of their lifelong healthcare goals.
We know you want the best for your little one, and Fore can offer the forward-thinking and scientific-based quality care you expect. Talk to your pediatrician today about how this innovative product can transform the future health of your child.
