What does carrier testing help determine?

Carrier testing is specifically designed to identify whether an individual carries a gene for a recessive condition, which means they have one copy of a mutated gene that can be passed on to offspring. This is particularly important for conditions that require two copies of the mutated gene—one from each parent—for the condition to manifest in the child.

By determining if a person is a carrier, healthcare providers can offer important information about the risks of having children who may inherit the condition. This is crucial for family planning and making informed decisions regarding genetic counseling, testing, and understanding potential health implications for the next generation.

In contrast, the other choices focus on different aspects of genetic testing: dominant conditions typically manifest if a person inherits just one mutated gene, meaning carrier testing does not assess this. Testing for prior genetic mutations or determining immunity to diseases fall outside the scope of carrier testing, which is specifically tailored to identify carriers of recessive genetic conditions.