Paid Genetic Testing Options for British Columbians

In the province of British Columbia, genetic testing is offered through the provincially funded Hereditary Cancer Program. There are also commercial genetic testing programs, which are available online. Costs of testing vary, as do the services offered and the potential reliability of results i.e., false negatives/positives, confidentiality, privacy, and support services.

Note about Accreditation: Some of the companies profiled here are based outside of Canada. The consumer must be aware that most genetic tests available today online are not regulated, meaning they go to market without any independent analysis to verify the claims of the seller. For more information, consider an internet search for consumer information under “GENETICS HOME REFERENCE”.

Considerations for Private Gene Testing

Private labs test for a selection of genes based on the probability or likelihood of people in the population having those genes. It is important to remember that even if you receive a negative result on your test, this does not mean with 100% certainty that you do not have a mutation. You may still carry a mutation that was not included in the test. False-negative results are also possible

Genetic Counseling

Before you decide to test with a private lab, it is always advisable to consult with a genetic counselor. Many of the private labs profiled below do not include this service, however, Sharsheret, a reputable charity serving the Jewish population based in the United States offers free genetic counseling consultations over the phone to Jewish people anywhere. You can go over your family history with a genetic counselor and he or she can advise you on how best to proceed with testing. Additionally, a new Quebec-based company now offers private pay genetic counseling services. For more information on this service, please click here.

*The authors of this site do not advocate any one of the testing options profiled on this site. The following test options are listed alphabetically and are not indicative of a promotional relationship.