Empower Screening.

Most major insurance plans cover Empower when NCCN clinical criteria are met, including a qualifying personal or family history of cancer. Our team verifies benefits and obtains prior authorization before any sample is collected. Coverage varies by plan, so we confirm in writing before proceeding.

A positive result indicates elevated lifetime risk, not a current cancer diagnosis. Your TrufaMED physician builds a risk-management plan that may include enhanced imaging surveillance (breast MRI, transvaginal ultrasound), risk-reducing medication, surgical risk reduction options, and coordinated referrals to oncology and genetic counseling. We also help organize cascade testing for first-degree relatives.

Pre-test counseling can be performed by your TrufaMED physician for straightforward indications. Post-test counseling with a board-certified genetic counselor is strongly recommended for any positive result or variant of uncertain significance. We coordinate that referral.

Results typically return from Myriad in 2 to 3 weeks from the date the sample is received. We schedule your results visit as soon as the report is signed out.

A VUS is a genetic change whose clinical impact is not yet established. It is not treated as a positive result and does not change clinical management. Variants are reclassified over time as more data accumulates, and we re-contact patients if a VUS is reclassified.

Either, depending on the panel and patient preference. Most adults at our Surfside clinic provide a blood sample drawn by a licensed provider during the visit. Saliva kits are available for select circumstances.

Yes. In fact, many guidelines recommend germline testing for any patient with a personal history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colorectal, or prostate cancer, regardless of family history or age at diagnosis. Results may inform treatment decisions, surveillance for second cancers, and cascade testing for relatives.

Not initially. The first step is testing the person most likely to carry a mutation, typically the family member with the youngest cancer diagnosis. Once a specific mutation is identified, single-site testing for relatives is much less expensive and almost always covered by insurance.

Myriad is HIPAA-compliant and does not share identifiable data with third parties without consent. Federal law (GINA) prohibits employers and health insurers from using genetic test results to discriminate. GINA does not extend to life, disability, or long-term care insurance, which is something we discuss before testing.

Yes, substantial. Direct-to-consumer ancestry tests typically genotype only a handful of common variants, often missing 90%+ of clinically actionable mutations. Empower uses full-gene sequencing plus large-rearrangement analysis, classified per ACMG criteria, with physician-grade reporting suitable for medical decision-making.

Yes. Hereditary cancer testing is safe during pregnancy and is sometimes prioritized when a pregnant patient has a strong family history. We coordinate timing of any results-based interventions with your obstetrician.

Telehealth consultations are available statewide for the consult and results visits. Sample collection requires either an in-person visit to our Surfside clinic or a saliva kit shipped to your residence.