Genetic Consultation

This section presents information on finding and visiting a genetic counselor genetics professional. 

A genetic consultation is a health service that provides information and support to people who have, or may be at risk for, genetic disorders. During a consultation, a genetics professional meets with an individual or family to discuss genetic risks or to diagnose, confirm, or rule out a genetic condition. 

Consultations usually take place in a doctor s office, hospital, genetics center, or other type of medical center. These meetings are most often in-person visits with individuals or famihes, but they are occasionally conducted in a group or over the telephone. 

Individuals or families who are concerned about an inherited condition may benefit from a genetic consultation. The reasons that a person might be referred to a genetic counselor, medical geneticist, or other genetics professional include  

A personal or family history of a genetic condition, birth defect, chromosomal disorder, or hereditary cancer. 

Individuals or families who are concerned about an inherited condition may benefit from a 

A genetic consultation is also an important part of the decision-making process for genetic 

A genetic consultation is also an important part of the decision-making process for genetic testing. A visit with a genetics professional may be helpful even if testing is not available for a specific condition, however. 

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A genetic consultation provides information, offers support, and addresses a patient s specific questions and concerns. To help determine whether a condition has a genetic component, a genetics professional asks about a person s medical history and takes a detailed family history (a record of health information about a person s immediate and extended family). The genetics professional may also perform a physical examination and recommend appropriate tests. 

Once a person decides to proceed with genetic testing, a medical geneticist, primary care doctor, specialist, or nurse practitioner can order the test. Genetic testing is often done as part of a genetic consultation. 

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