BRCA Genetic Test
Reviewed
BRCA genetic test looks for harmful changes (variants) in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that can increase the risk of breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
Preparation and collection
For blood test: no special preparation. For saliva test: stop eating, drinking, or smoking for 30 minutes before providing the sample. For cheek swab: you may be asked to rinse your mouth before the sample is taken. Consider meeting with a genetic counselor before testing to understand the pros and cons.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- The test cannot tell whether you will develop cancer; it only indicates an increased risk.
- A negative result does not rule out all harmful variants, as there are over 1000 known BRCA variants and many are not tested.
- At-home test kits only check for the three most common harmful variations and cannot rule out all possible variants.
- An uncertain result (VUS) may be reclassified in the future as more research is done.
- Results must be interpreted along with personal and family health history.
What to do next
Share your results with a healthcare provider or genetic counselor to understand what they mean for you and your family. Based on results, discuss personalized cancer screening, risk-reducing strategies (medications or surgery), and consider informing at-risk family members.