Diagnostic testing Diagnostic testing is used to identify or confirm the diagnosis of a disease or condition in a person or a family.
Diagnostic testing gives a yes or no answer in most cases.
It is sometimes helpful in determining the course of a disease and the choice of treatment. Examples of diagnostic testing include chromosome studies, direct DNA studies, and biochemical genetic testing. Predictive genetic testing Predictive genetic testing determines the chances that a healthy individual with or without a family history of a certain disease might develop that disease. Presymptomatic genetic testing Presymptomatic genetic testing is used to determine whether persons who have a family history of a disease, but no current symptoms, have the gene alterations associated with the disease. Carrier testing Carrier testing is performed to determine whether a person carries one copy of an altered gene for a particular disease.