Mor Institute has launched what it says is the first comprehensive preventive genetic test in Israel, offering healthy adults a saliva-based screening for genetic predisposition to dozens of medically significant diseases.
The test, intended for people aged 18 and older, screens for genetic changes in 173 genes associated with a wide range of conditions, including hereditary cancers, cardiovascular diseases, blood clotting disorders, metabolic diseases, eye diseases, kidney diseases, and sensitivity to anesthetic agents, Mor said.
The institute said the test is designed to help individuals and physicians identify risks before symptoms appear, allowing for more personalized medical surveillance, prevention, and treatment.
Among the hereditary cancers included in the screening are breast and ovarian cancer, including risks associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, as well as prostate, colorectal, pancreatic, melanoma, uterine, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal cancers.
The test also screens for genetic risks linked to cardiovascular disease, elevated blood lipid levels, clotting disorders, iron and copper storage disorders, and monogenic diabetes, a form of diabetes caused by a mutation in a single gene that can respond differently to medication than more common forms of the disease.
Genes designated as medically significant included in new test
Mor said the test includes genes designated by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics as medically significant for early detection in the context of genetic testing, as well as additional medically important genes.
The test is performed using a saliva swab collected at Mor Institute. The sample is analyzed using advanced genetic sequencing technology, with clinical interpretation carried out at the Genomic Center Laboratory at Beilinson Hospital by bioinformaticians and medical geneticists, according to Mor.
The institute said the results could help physicians recommend more precise follow-up. For example, a person found to have a genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer may be advised to undergo more rigorous surveillance, such as a colonoscopy, to identify early lesions before they develop into cancer.
In other cases, Mor said the findings could lead to simpler preventive recommendations. A person with a predisposition to excessive blood clotting may be advised to avoid smoking or to move regularly during long flights.
“As Israel’s leading healthcare center network, we are pleased to offer people in Israel an innovative and comprehensive genetic test that only needs to be performed once in a lifetime,” said Yoram Segal, CEO of Mor. “Modern medicine is increasingly focused on personalized medicine, and this test is an excellent example of that.”
Genetic information becoming increasingly important tool for preventive care
Dr. Niki Liberman, medical director of Mor, said genetic information was becoming an increasingly important tool in preventive care.
“In the era of personalized medicine, our genetic information is becoming a powerful tool in maintaining health,” Liberman said. “Through this test, individuals in whom a clinically significant genetic change is identified will be able to plan, together with their family physician, a personalized and dedicated medical surveillance pathway according to their findings.”
The institute said the test is meant for generally healthy adults and is performed once in a lifetime. More information is available through Mor’s website or its call center at *3088.