• By Stephany Tandy-Connor, MS
  • Posted March 22, 2018

False-positive results released by direct-to-consumer genetic tests highlight the importance of clinical confirmation testing for appropriate patient care

The explosion of direct-to-consumer genetic testing over the last few years has created a ton of buzz, beyond just ancestry, health traits and wine preferences. Many of these DTC labs also release raw data to the consumer; this often leaves many individuals interested in what these findings mean and their potential impact on their healthcare management.…


  • By Taylor Leigh
  • Posted November 10, 2017

Why Genetic Counselors are Integral to Ambry

In our more than 20 years of operation, Ambry has come a long way. Looking back, it’s important to remember that we would not be “Ambry Genetics” without our genetic counselors. Ambry is built on the foundation of quality genetic testing that helps people find answers – and genetic counselors have been with us from the beginning, working…


  • By Desiree Magee
  • Posted November 8, 2017

Genetic Counselors: Companions on the Journey to Rare Disease Diagnosis

Our daughter Daphne started missing developmental milestones at around 6 months of age. She was unable to sit on her own and unwilling to eat baby food. We started down the path of diagnosis, which was long and exhausting and went like this: First, we went to our pediatrician to document our initial concerns and obtain referrals for a physical…


  • By Jessica Profato, MS, CGC
  • Posted October 16, 2017

Identifying Patients with Lynch Syndrome: A Paired Somatic/Germline Testing Approach

Lynch syndrome is one of the most common hereditary cancer syndromes, affecting about 1/279-1/440 people in the U.S. It is caused by a genetic mutation in one of five genes: MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, or EPCAM. Individuals with Lynch syndrome have a significantly increased lifetime risk for multiple types of cancer including colorectal…


  • By Laurie Curtis
  • Posted September 28, 2017

How my Genetic Counselor Provided Guidance When I Needed it Most

I went in for genetic testing because cancer runs in my family: My maternal grandfather had prostate cancer; his sister had an unidentified cancer; my mother died from ovarian cancer; both her sisters have had breast cancer, one of which had bilateral breast cancer, 18 years apart; and 2 of my 3 female cousins have had breast cancer. One cousin…


  • By Taylor Leigh
  • Posted July 27, 2017

Ambry GC Melissa Truelson Advances Qualified Genetic Counseling in Minnesota

*Editor’s Note: For this article, we interviewed one of Ambry’s genetic counselors, Melissa Truelson, MS, CGC, who was instrumental in passing local healthcare legislation in her home state of Minnesota. One of Ambry’s genetic counselors, Melissa Truelson, MS, CGC, continually strives to advance qualified genetic counseling in…


  • By Carin Espenschied
  • Posted June 29, 2017

What Happens When I Get My Genetic Test Results?

*Editor's Note: This post was originally shared on June 8th, 2016 and has been updated with current information. Learning the results of genetic testing can be a stressful experience for some, but it also has the potential to be empowering. If you are waiting for your genetic test results to come back or are considering…


  • By Deepti Babu, MS, CGC
  • Posted May 18, 2017

How are Direct-to-Consumer and Medical-Grade Genetic Tests Different?

As we find more ways to take charge of our health, genetic testing is becoming something that many consider and, in fact, has become easier to access than ever before. An appointment with a doctor or genetic counselor is no longer required to access genetic testing – for some types of genetic tests, it’s now possible to order a test kit online,…


  • By Brittney Murray, MS, CGC
  • Posted April 27, 2017

Using Technology to Help with your Genetic Heart Disease Risk

Technology is everywhere. It has become pervasive in our lives. Phones and computers became smaller, smaller, and then somehow bigger and bigger again as our phones become our new computers. Increasing technological advances are also propelling healthcare: newer techniques, smarter robotics, and new drugs. Within genetics, testing techniques…


  • By Jackie Connor
  • Posted March 30, 2017

Ambry Talks Plans for Personalized Genomic Test Launch, Third Annual Trivia Night a Hit

On Thursday evening, March 23rd, an audience of more than 100 genetic counselors and geneticists from across the United States listened to Ambry Genetics’ Clinical Genomics Marketing Manager Layla Shahmirzadi, MS, CGC, discuss plans to launch a personalized genomic test for healthy individuals. The talk took place at Events on Jackson venue…