FAQs & Video Library
Genetics 101: General Knowledge on Genetic Health Screening
Introduction to Genetic Health Screening
With 70% of rare diseases having a genetic foundation, our focus is on empowering you with the knowledge to make informed decisions.
How Our Process Works
Genetic Counseling Basics
Top 10 Parent FAQs
Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA 2008) safe guards individuals against genetic discrimination in both the workplace and health insurance realm. For instance, health insurance providers are prohibited from setting premiums based on genetic health data, and employers are barred from making hiring or firing decisions based on genetic health information. Additionally, various state laws extend protection against genetic discrimination to other insurance benefits.
As a parent or legal guardian you are in control of your child’s data. Fore will not share your child’s data without your written consent. We have designed a highly secure infrastructure to comply with HIPAA regulations and meet PCI standards.
Fore utilizes cutting-edge technology to sequence your child’s full genome (100% of their DNA) and examine it for hundreds of medically significant conditions. But it's not just a test; Fore offers a comprehensive care service. This service includes access to genetic counselors, medical specialists, and care navigators who are there to assist you in comprehending the results, leveraging the insights effectively, and determining the best course of action moving forward.
There exists a multitude of genetic conditions that may manifest in childhood or adulthood, varying in their treatability. Fore’s screen specifically targets detectable genetic alterations associated with treatable childhood-onset conditions. We screen for hundreds rare pediatric-onset conditions, where identifying an elevated risk could significantly alter the child's medical care. This encompasses a range of disorders, including blood disorders, neurological conditions, metabolic disorders, immune system impairments, endocrine disorders, and more. Fore is designed as a screening tool for apparently healthy infants and children. If you have concerns about your child's health and seek a genetic diagnosis, kindly reach out to us for further guidance.
Newborn screening is a public health initiative conducted at the state level to identify certain serious conditions in babies that are manageable when detected early in infancy, usually within the first 1 to 2months of life. While a national committee offers guidance on potential conditions to screen for, each state autonomously determines the specific conditions included in its newborn screening panel. Presently, states screen for anywhere from 30 to 70 conditions. Fore is intended to complement routine state newborn screening protocols.
No. Insurance doesn’t typically cover whole genome sequencing for healthy newborns. Fore has partnered with payment solutions providers to allow use of HSA and FSA funds at checkout.
Carrier screening detects genetic diseases that require both parents to be carriers to have an affected child (autosomal recessive), or where the mother may be a carrier and has an increased risk of having an affected son (X-linked recessive). The range of conditions screened for varies between testing labs, from a few to hundreds. Usually, these conditions are chosen based on their frequency and severity rather than their treatability. Testing can occur before conception or during pregnancy. Fore's service focuses on the baby and occurs after birth and is designed to grow as your child ages.
Next-generation sequencing is the cutting-edge technology employed to sequence either a single gene, an entire exome, or a genome. It has supplanted the older technique known as Sanger sequencing, and today, most laboratories utilize next-generation sequencing.
Genes consist of alternating segments known as exons and introns. Exons are the segments responsible for protein creation, while introns are non-coding portions of the gene, though they contain information used to regulate gene activity. Whole exome sequencing involves sequencing all exons across all genes, while whole genome sequencing encompasses both exons and introns.
Whole genome sequencing offers the most comprehensive analysis of an individual's genetic makeup.
No, family history is indeed a crucial factor in assessing risk, but it doesn't provide the complete picture. Many genetic conditions are inherited unknowingly within families. Some are transmitted silently through carriers who show no symptoms (unaffected carriers) and pass on a single genetic alteration for the condition. For a child to be affected, both parents must be carriers, yet since most families are unaware of carrying such conditions, they remain "hidden," lacking any apparent family history. Moreover, certain conditions, known as X-linked disorders, predominantly manifest in males rather than females. In such cases, the mother may be an unaffected carrier, and several generations of unaffected carrier females may precede the birth of an affected male, masking any evident family history. Lastly, genetic conditions can emerge in a family due to new genetic variations occurring spontaneously in the egg or sperm that form the child. These alterations are spontaneous and not linked to any familial history of the condition.
Fore’s service includes whole genome sequencing to screen for actionable, childhood-onset conditions, screening for response to common medications, genetic counseling to help you understand your results and clinical reporting for use by your physician.
If you have placed your order, but have not submitted a sample, you are eligible for a 100% refund for one year starting from the date of purchase. Once you have submitted a sample, you are no longer eligible for any refund.
Fore's Genetic Health Screen (Our Process)
Fore is only available in the United States for apparently healthy children and can only be ordered by their parent or legal guardian. Fore’s service is intended for healthy newborns and children, an order may be deemed ineligible if the individual that the service is purchased for is over the age of 18 or has specific health concerns that warrant a different type of test.
The parent or legal guardian of the child to be screened can order from Fore’s website. No doctor visit is necessary, Fore’s physicians will review the order and authorize if it meets eligibility requirements. Once authorized, a DNA collection kit will ship to the address provided.
You can expect to receive the collection kit within 1-2weeks of purchase after the physician has authorized the screening.
After you complete your purchase and go through our enrollment process, we will send you an easy-to-use saliva collection kit. You will also receive a pre-paid envelope to send the sample to the lab.
Your genetic counselor is available both before and after testing to help you understand the benefits and limitations of testing. Your genetic counselor will also inform and educate you about your child’s results and recommended next steps. Genetic Counselors are also available to support your pediatrician by helping to interpret results and identifying specialists if needed.
Fore’s team of experts have selected genes associated with pediatric-onset conditions that are clinically actionable. Learning that your child has an increased risk for one of these conditions allows you to access the right care as soon as possible.
Results are typically available in about four weeks after your child’s saliva sample is received by the lab. Fore’s genetic counselors are available to meet after you receive your results.
Genetic testing is highly accurate, but no test is 100%perfect. Fore may recommend follow-up testing or an exam with a specialist to confirm your child’s result. There could be a situation where a result indicates an increased risk for a specific condition, but follow-up diagnostic testing confirms your child doesn’t have that condition. This is referred to as a “false-positive” report. Though uncommon, there are instances where a result indicates no increased risk was found, but follow-up testing confirmed a diagnosis. This is referred to as a “false-negative” report.
If your child’s lab results indicate an increased risk for one of the conditions our team will assist you in locating the right specialists to ensure that your child receives the best possible care as early as possible.
After you place your order, we will ask for your pediatrician’s information. We highly recommend sharing your pediatrician’s information so that your child can receive seamless care from the Fore team and your pediatrician.
Your child’s genomic data is stored by our partner DNA Nexus. The systems used to host genomic data at DNA Nexus meet the highest rigorous information security standards to achieve compliance with industry-accepted general security and privacy frameworks.
Fore’s Membership is a re-analysis of your child’s genome each year as new gene-disease validations are clinically reviewed. There are billions of dollars spent each year to better understand our genes and how they relate to diseases, Fore’s Membership allows you to be at the forefront of genetics knowledge for your child. Your knowledge of your child’s genetic health will grow with science!
Health Insights
Genetic information serves as the fundamental blueprint for every aspect of your body, dictating traits from physical appearance to muscle function. The majority of genetic alterations are harmless variations that neither cause nor elevate the risk of significant health issues. While some changes influence physical attributes like height without affecting health, others can lead to serious medical conditions. It's important to note that while genes may not offer insight into all health conditions, scientists have identified over 6,000 genes capable of causing genetic disorders.
Whole genome sequencing, abbreviated as WGS, involves examining all the DNA comprising your genome, encompassing the entire genetic material across all 20,000 genes. The objective of WGS is to decode each of the3 billion pairs of nucleotides, the fundamental building blocks of DNA. Once the genome is fully sequenced, genetic analysis can pinpoint any alterations in the genome that might elevate the risk of a genetic disorder.
Fore does not screen for all potential genetic causes of childhood diseases or adult-onset conditions. Our curated list targets childhood-onset, treatable conditions; however, some genes reported by our service are associated with a wide range of clinical outcomes, including different ages of onset and variable symptoms. It is possible to receive a positive result, but further evaluation may reveal that your child is not currently at risk for early-onset symptoms. If you receive a positive result, our genetic counselors will assist you in understanding the necessary medical follow-up to better comprehend your child's health risks.
Fore’s Genetic Health Screen is designed for healthy newborns and children. However, some of the conditions included have onset later on in childhood. In addition, your child’s genome will be stored and re-analyzed annually. Having access to your child’s full genome can be useful if your child develops any health concerns in the future.
Children with an increased risk result are at risk of developing symptoms of the condition and should seek follow-up care. Although we have selected genes linked to conditions that typically manifest in childhood, the age of onset can vary. Our genetic counselors and medical specialists will assist you in understanding the necessary medical follow-up to better assess your child’s health risks.