The Counsyl Universal Genetic Test uses saliva to look for genetic mutations linked to 109 diseases. The list includes cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease. Results are available in less than a week.
But some geneticists say there are many mutations the test does not cover, and other mutations are hard to interpret.
If a husband and wife do test positive for the same disease, one solution would be to use in vitro fertilization with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. That's where doctors check each embryo and implant only those that are free of specific mutations.
