Genetic Counseling

Personalized pre- and post-test counseling support

Get started
FirstInsight

Non-invasive prenatal screening

Get started
FirstDx

Whole exome sequencing solution

Get started
FirstScreen

Comprehensive carrier screening

Get started
FirstOnco

Hereditary cancer panel testing

Get started

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Test

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a set of neuromuscular disorders characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and immobility due to nerve cell degeneration in the spial cord. The condition is primarily caused by genetic alterations in the SMN1 gene, with 95% of cases involving deletions in this gene or additional copies of the related SMN2 gene. First Genomix employs the Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification technique to accurately detect SMN1 gene deletions and determine SMN2 gene copy numbers.

How is the test performed?

SMA testing is recommended for:
  • Couples with a family history of SMA who want to assess the risk of passing on the SMN1 deletion to their children
  • All pregnant or prospective couples
  • Fetuses, when both parents are identified as carriers. This is done using CVS or Amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis
  • Individuals exhibiting symptoms of SMA
  • Those with a family member diagnosed with SMA seeking to verify their carrier status
  • Newborns for screening purposes to help identify the disease, enabling early medical intervention

SMA is a serious disease of high carrier frequency and is considered the second most common autosomal recessive disorder globally. SMA testing helps couples understand their carrier status and their chances of passing SMA genes to their offspring in case of an existing family history. This information can help inform family planning decisions. The test can also help determine if other family members may have inherited the disease, providing clinicians with in-depth diagnostic information that can inform important clinical decisions.

Genetic results for SMA testing are interpreted as follows:

Carrier Testing:
  • 1 copy of the SMN1 gene detected: Indicates that the patient is a carrier of SMA.
  • 2 copies of the SMN1 gene detected: Suggests that the patient is unlikely to be a carrier of SMA, although the possibility cannot be completely excluded.
Diagnostic Testing:
  • Homozygous deletion (0 copies of SMN1 gene): Confirms a diagnosis of SMA.
  • Heterozygous deletion (1 copy of SMN1 gene detected): Suggests SMA but additional testing may be needed for confirmation, especially if there are rare mutations on the non-deleted copy of the SMN1 gene.
  • No deletion (2 copies of SMN1 gene detected): Indicates that a diagnosis of SMA is unlikely.