Preconception Genetic Testing: Your Options, Compared
There are three very different ways to learn about your genetics before having a baby: carrier screening ordered by your doctor, reports built from DNA tests you have already taken, and embryo screening during IVF. Here is what each one tells you, what it costs, and how they fit together.
At a glance
You and your partner already have DNA data — 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, tellmeGen, or whole-genome — and want to see what your future children might inherit: traits, polygenic health risk, and a check on well-known recessive variants. $19–$59.99 for both of you, results in about 2 hours.
You want clinical-grade carrier screening across hundreds of recessive conditions (ask your OB or a genetic counselor; it is often covered by insurance), or you are doing IVF and want to screen embryos.
A sensible way to approach it
These tests answer different questions, so many couples use more than one. Here is the order we would suggest.
- 1
Ask your doctor about carrier screening
Professional bodies such as ACOG and ACMG recommend offering carrier screening to everyone planning a pregnancy. Clinical expanded panels test each partner across hundreds of genes and are often covered by insurance. This is the test that reliably answers "are we both carriers of a serious recessive condition?"
- 2
If you already have DNA data, take a first look now
Upload both partners' files to a Genomisaur Family Report. We combine them and simulate 100 possible children: likely eye and hair color, height, and (Family Full) polygenic risk for common conditions plus a check on well-known carrier variants. It costs $19–$59.99 and takes about 2 hours, with no new sample.
- 3
Take questions to a genetic counselor
If either test flags something, a genetic counselor can explain what it means for your family and whether follow-up testing makes sense.
- 4
Doing IVF? Embryo screening is a separate step
IVF clinics offer PGT-M to test embryos for a specific known condition, and companies like Orchid offer whole-genome embryo screening including polygenic risk. These only apply if you are already going through IVF.
Pricing
Public list prices. Genomisaur Family Full is $59.99 for both parents.
| Option | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical carrier screening (via your doctor) | Often covered by insurance; self-pay varies by lab | Tests each partner for hundreds of recessive conditions |
| Genomisaur Family Starter | $19 for both parents | Trait predictions for 100 simulated children, from DNA you already have |
| Genomisaur Family Full | $59.99 for both parents | Adds polygenic health risk and a carrier check on well-known variants |
| Nucleus Preview | ~$399 per person | Whole genome sequencing plus a single-person report |
| Orchid Couple Report | ~$1100 per couple | Whole-genome couple screening |
| Orchid Embryo Report (IVF only) | ~$2500 per embryo | Whole-genome screening of IVF embryos |
Competitor prices are public list prices from each vendor's site as of 2026 and change often; confirm on the vendor's site before purchasing.
Feature comparison
Side-by-side on the things that actually change what the product does for you.
| Feature | Genomisaur | Other options | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needs a new test or sample? | No — uses DNA files you already have | Yes — blood or saliva, or an embryo biopsy for IVF | |
| Carrier screening depth | Checks well-known variants for common recessive conditions; consumer arrays miss many rare variants | Clinical panels sequence hundreds of genes | |
| Shows what your children might be like | Yes — 100 simulated children: eye and hair color, height, and more | No | |
| Polygenic risk for common conditions | Yes (Family Full) | Nucleus and Orchid: yes. Clinical carrier screening: no | |
| Insurance coverage | No — $19–$59.99 out of pocket | Clinical carrier screening is often covered | |
| Turnaround | About 2 hours | Usually weeks | |
| Works with IVF embryos | No — for planning before conception | Orchid (whole-genome) and IVF clinics (PGT-M) |
What each one does well
Genomisaur
- See 100 simulated children before you conceive — no other product does this
- Uses the 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, tellmeGen, or WGS data you already have; partners can use different companies
- $19–$59.99 for both parents
- Results in about 2 hours
Other options
- Clinical carrier screening is the most thorough way to check for serious recessive conditions, and often covered by insurance
- Orchid is the option for screening embryos during IVF
- Nucleus Preview bundles whole genome sequencing if you have no DNA data yet
Start with carrier screening through your doctor — it is the most important preconception genetic test and is often covered. If you and your partner already have DNA data, a Genomisaur Family Report is a fast, inexpensive way to see what your future children might inherit, from eye color to polygenic health risk, for $19–$59.99. If you are doing IVF, embryo screening is a separate conversation with your clinic or Orchid.
Frequently asked questions
Do we still need carrier screening from our doctor if we use Genomisaur?
Yes, we recommend it. Consumer DNA tests measure specific, well-known variants, so they can miss rare variants that clinical carrier panels detect. Genomisaur is a complement that adds things clinical screening does not — simulated children, trait predictions, and polygenic risk — not a replacement.
Can we use 23andMe or AncestryDNA data?
Yes. Each partner can upload a 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, or tellmeGen raw data file, or a single-sample whole-genome VCF — and you can each use a different company.
What does "100 simulated children" mean?
We model how DNA is passed down: each simulated child inherits one copy of each chromosome from each parent, with the natural reshuffling that happens in every egg and sperm. Running this 100 times gives a range of outcomes — for example, "72 of 100 had brown eyes, 20 hazel, 8 blue" — instead of a single guess.
Is preconception genetic testing covered by insurance?
Clinical carrier screening ordered by a doctor often is; check with your insurer. Consumer reports like Genomisaur, Nucleus, and Orchid are generally paid out of pocket.
Do I need IVF to benefit from preconception testing?
No. Carrier screening and Genomisaur both work for couples planning to conceive naturally. Embryo screening only applies if you are already doing IVF.
What is the difference between carrier screening and a polygenic score?
Carrier screening looks for single high-impact variants in recessive disease genes, like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease. If both parents carry one, each child has a 1 in 4 chance of the condition. A polygenic risk score adds up thousands of small-effect variants to estimate relative risk for common conditions like type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
Is this a replacement for talking to a genetic counselor?
No. All preconception genetic reports — ours and everyone else's — are best discussed with a qualified clinician or genetic counselor before making reproductive decisions.
Informational, not diagnostic
Consumer genetic reports — ours, Other options's, and others — are informational. Carrier and polygenic risk results should be discussed with a qualified healthcare provider or genetic counselor before making medical or reproductive decisions.