Couples Carrier Screening

Name: Couples Carrier Screening
Brand: Eugene Labs
SKU: PCS04-M
Price: 949.00 AUD
Availability: InStock

$949.00

At-home genetic test bundle that screens couples for 620+ genes to check their risk of passing on a serious disease to their child. It includes a bulk billed Core test for the person assigned female at birth, which screens for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and fragile X, plus an extended panel for both reproductive partners with a combined report looking at 100's of other inherited conditions.

Medicare Eligibility

This test includes a bulk billed component, so it's important to check your Medicare eligibility before placing an order.

Please note this rebate is a once-per-lifetime benefit. If you’re not eligible, our Comprehensive carrier screening is a great option that’s available to you.

For heterosexual couples

Partially covered by Medicare. $949 out of pocket

1 kit, 2 swabs

No individual results, except CF, SMA & FXS for female at birth

Genetic counselling included

Results 6-8 weeks from when your sample arrives at lab

Is the Couples test right for me?

Couples Carrier Screening is ideal for heterosexual couples planning a pregnancy who are eligible for Medicare & want to get a basic understanding of their combined risk of having a baby with a serious genetic condition.

It may be our largest panel covered by Medicare, but that doesn't mean it's the most comprehensive, and it isn't right for everyone. If you are interested in knowing your individual carrier status, are doing the test solo, using a donor, aren't eligible for Medicare, have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, or simply want to do everything you can to understand your risk of passing a genetic disease to your child, Comprehensive Carrier Screening might be a better option for you. This is a more thorough test that identifies ~80% of individuals as carriers and ~1 in 35 couples as having a high risk result.

Explore comprehensive

What genes does the Couples test screen for?

Couples Carrier screens for 620+ inherited genetic diseases that affect children in Australia including:

CFTR — Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
SMN1 — Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
FMR1 — FragileX Syndrome
HEXA— Tay Sachs Disease

This test does not screen for some of the gene variants that are covered in our Comprehensive Carrier Screening test such as hearing and vision loss conditions, CAVD which can influence fertility, or the GBA gene associated with Gauchers disease, which is common in the Ashkenazi Jewish population.

What genes does the Couples test screen for?

What can I do with the Couples test results?

If you & your partner are both carriers of the same condition, then you may want to consider:

Prenatal testing to find out if your pregnancy is affected
Medicare funded programs to use IVF technologies to prevent passing on the condition
Other options which your genetic counsellor will explain in your free results appointment

What can I do with the Couples test results?

About the Australian lab

Your sample is processed NATA accredited medical-grade genomics laboratory in Victoria.

This means they meet high standards to obtain national certifications and submit themselves to regular inspections. It also means your results can be used to guide your pregnancy plans and be directly actioned at your doctor's office.

At-home sample collection kit

DNA analysis in a certified laboratory

Doctor reviewed test results

Consult with a genetic counsellor

As seen in

What if I've already used my Medicare benefit?

If you’ve already accessed the Medicare benefit but would like to complete a more comprehensive test, we offer a Comprehensive Carrier Screening panel that includes over 720 conditions and is not linked to Medicare.

Can I order the medicare test excluding CF, SMA & FXS screening?

No, the testing panels are designed and available only as a unit, and we are unable to remove or exclude Cystic Fibrosis, Fragile X, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy from the test.

What happens to my sample once the test is completed?

Your saliva sample is destroyed after 30 days. In unusual cases when testing takes longer than 30 days, the specimen will be retained until the report is delivered.

What is the turnaround time for the couples test?

You'll receive your test kit 1 - 2 business days after you place your order. From the moment we receive your saliva sample, the turnaround time to get your results is 6-8 weeks.

What ongoing care is available once I have my test results?

Each test comes with a consult with a Eugene genetic counsellor to discuss your results and any options you want to consider. If you’d like, we’ll also provide specialist referrals to support your ongoing care or forward your results to your GP or specialist.

I don't have a family history of any of the conditions, is this still relevant for me?

80% of babies born with an inherited genetic condition had no family history of it. That’s why Eugene’s carrier screening is relevant when you are planning a pregnancy, regardless of your family background or history.

If you do have a personal or family history of a genetic condition it is important to inform Eugene and your fertility specialist as this may influence which test is recommended to you.

What are the differences between all the Eugene carrier screening options?

Core Carrier Screening is our most basic test, which screens for 3 genes - cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Fragile X. It's for people assigned female at birth and is covered by Medicare (male partners only get tested if their partner is found to be a carrier). 70% of at risk couples will be missed with this test because these diseases most commonly affect caucasians. If you have a different ethnic background or a family history with inherited conditions, a larger panel is a better option for you.

Couples Carrier Screening screens 620+ genes and is covered by Medicare. It's a bundle of Core Carrier Screening for the person assigned female at birth and an additional extended panel for the couple. It only provides one combined couples report so not suitable for people who need to know their individual carrier status, like individuals testing solo or using donors.

Comprehensive Carrier Screening is our most comprehensive option which screens for 780+ genes and is suitable for individuals, couples and donors as it provides an individual carrier status report as well as a combined couples report. 8 out of 10 people who do this test find out they are healthy carriers of at least 1 condition. It isn't covered by Medicare as it's only available at international labs. It's perfect for people who aren't eligible for Medicare, want to do the test solo, couples who want to know their individual risk status as well as their combined, or those who want to do everything they can to reduce their risk of having a baby with an inherited condition.

How often are people found to have a high risk for the couples test?

Approximately 1 in 50 couples (~2%) will find out that they have a high risk of having a child with one of the conditions on this test.

If you choose our Comprehensive test, you have more chance of identifying your risk with ~1 in 35 couples receiving a high risk result. It will also identify ~80% of individuals as a carrier through the additional individual risk status report.

Is the couples test covered by Medicare?

Yes it is partially covered by Medicare. Couples Carrier Screening includes the Core test for the person assigned female at birth, which is bulk billed by Medicare leaving an out of pocket cost of $949 for the couples extended panel.

Can I pay full price for the couples test if I'm not eligible for Medicare?

Unfortunately not. As this bundle includes a bulk billed Core test for the person assigned female at birth, Medicare eligibility is required. Our lab doesn't offer a non Medicare version of this test yet but as soon as they do, we will too.

Our Comprehensive Carrier Screening is available to you without Medicare and it's actually a more thorough test as it includes an individual carrier status report, as well as a combined couples report. The benefits of this is to understand what you personally carry so you can know how this might impact your health, use your results if you were to recouple, and share information with family members about what they may carry.

Is the couples test suitable for LGBTQ+ couples?

This test is designed for couples who were assigned female and male at birth. If you and your partner were assigned the same sex at birth, you can purchase two individual comprehensive tests.

How is my data stored and shared?

As a healthcare company, we comply with the most stringent local and international privacy and security regulations. We take incredible care to use technical, process and physical safeguards to secure your personal information and protect it against misuse, loss or alteration.

Finally, Eugene doesn’t share any of your data with anyone but you, the lab, and (with your express permission) your doctor.

Couples Carrier Screening