Quest Diagnostics Launches Genetic Test to Assess Risk for Sickle Cell Anemia, Other Inherited Disorders

Couples who wish to know the risk of passing on a genetic disease such as sickle cell anemia to their children may now do so with QHerit, a new screening test by Quest Diagnostics. The QHerit Pan-Ethnic Expanded Carrier Screen test covers 22 genetic diseases and was produced based on screening guidelines issued in March 2017 by the American College of Gynecology (ACOG). The test determines the likelihood of a couple passing on a heritable disorder to their children and its impact. The test is able to predict the occurrence of diseases such as sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, Joubert Syndrome 2, Tay-Sachs disease, and Fragile X syndrome, among others.