Testing Facilities and Cost

Testing for breast cancer genes is most often done on a blood sample. The specific genes known to be associated with breast cancer are separated from the rest of the DNA. Then they are scanned for abnormalities.

Genetic testing can be done either by a commercial laboratory or in a research testing facility. Most people have it done by a commercial lab.

Often, the type of genetic testing that's done and the specific genes being tested dictate whether testing in a research setting is possible. Research labs tend to perform free and anonymous testing. But they may provide limited results or require multiple family members to participate. In addition, testing results may not be available for many months or years, and sometimes they're not available at all.

In the United States, Myriad Genetics performs all commercial BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing. They report results within a month. (Testing for gene abnormalities besides BRCA1 and BRCA2 can be done in other laboratories.)

Depending on whether you get the limited test (only a few areas of the gene are evaluated) or the full test (hundreds of areas are examined on both genes), the cost ranges from about $300 to $3,000. Find out if your insurance plan will cover genetic testing—many insurance plans do. In the United States, several laws are intended to protect people from insurance discrimination.

If you're concerned about your privacy, you may pay for the testing yourself and submit your blood sample under a code number or an assumed name. If you opt for the latter, choose a name you can remember easily—and stick to it.

In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to ensure quality standards and the accuracy and reliability of results across all testing laboratories. Genetic testing should be performed by a CLIA-approved facility. (Myriad Genetics is CLIA-approved.)