What is genetic testing? Is it accurate?

DNA testing is where a scientist conducts a test on a specific part of the genetic code to check for mutations that are known to cause health disorders or colour traits.

It would take too long to read the entire book of the genetic code to search for one small mutation, so we need to known specifically which chapter (chromosome) and paragraph (gene) to read to find the mutation. Once we know where the mutations occur, we can carry out a test to read that specific section of code and check whether it contains any mutations.

We can only test for mutations which are known and where the location in the genetic code has been found. It may be known that certain breeds are affected by a disorder, but the code which controls that may not have been discovered. Likewise, we can test for a specific mutation in one location, but there may be another mutation close by in the genetic code which also causes a similar disease. The genetic tests are 'programmed' to find only the specific piece of code we tell it to look for, the tests cannot 'see' nearby code to show up any other potential mutations or variations.

Genetic testing is very accurate in determining the presence of the specifically tested mutation and has been developed through careful scientific study and validation of each DNA test. The testing process is 99.9% accurate and you should be assured that all quality protocols and procedures are followed in the lab to ensure the best possible standards.