Hereditary cancer genetic testing
Hereditary cancer genetic testing
For families choosing a donor
Beginning January 2026, hereditary cancer genetic testing became part of the screening process for every new Xytex donor candidate.
What we changed, and why
Genetic testing continues to advance, expanding the information that can be considered during donor screening. Xytex continually evaluates its screening practices as the science evolves. In January 2026, we added hereditary cancer genetic testing for all new donor candidates.
Genetic testing has expanded significantly over time. As new testing becomes available and the science advances, Xytex continues to evaluate what information can meaningfully inform donor screening.
Beginning in January 2026, hereditary cancer genetic testing became part of the screening process for every new Xytex donor candidate.
Donors screened under the expanded protocol appear on the website as they complete the qualification process.
Hereditary cancer genetic testing does not identify every potential genetic or cancer risk. It evaluates certain inherited variants associated with cancer predisposition, and results should be considered alongside other medical, family and genetic information.
Most cancers are not caused by inherited genetic variants.
Yours to weigh
Hereditary cancer testing provides another piece of information for you and your care team to consider during donor selection. The information each family considers during donor selection will differ.
Your own genetic and family history may also be important to consider. Talk with your physician or genetic counselor about what testing may be appropriate for you and how your results can be considered alongside a donor’s.
Create your free accountFor clinics and genetic counselors
Hereditary cancer genetic testing adds information that can be considered alongside the donor’s medical and family history, reproductive carrier screening, and the intended parent’s own genetic and family history.
Beginning in January 2026, Xytex incorporated hereditary cancer genetic testing into the screening process for all new donor candidates. The testing is separate from reproductive carrier screening and does not replace it.
As with all genetic testing, results should be considered within the scope and limitations of the testing performed. Hereditary cancer testing does not identify every potential genetic or cancer risk.
Questions about our screening protocol?
What people ask us
Don’t see your question? Our Client Relations team can help connect you with the right resource.
Hereditary cancer genetic testing evaluates certain genes associated with an inherited predisposition to cancer. It provides an additional type of genetic information that Xytex considers as part of donor screening.
The two types of testing provide different genetic information. Reproductive carrier screening evaluates genetic variants associated with inherited conditions that could potentially be passed to a child.
Hereditary cancer testing evaluates certain genes associated with a predisposition to cancer. Hereditary cancer testing is an additional part of Xytex’s screening process and does not replace reproductive carrier screening.
No. A negative result does not mean that an individual has no cancer risk or that every possible hereditary cancer risk has been excluded. Hereditary cancer testing evaluates specific genes and variants within the scope of the test.
If a donor candidate is found to have a pathogenic variant in a gene associated with an increased risk of cancer, the candidate is excluded from the Xytex donor program and cannot donate.
Xytex’s Chief Medical Officer provides the results to the candidate, answers their questions and recommends complimentary genetic counseling through Natera.
Hereditary cancer genetic testing became part of Xytex’s screening protocol for new donor candidates beginning in January 2026. Donors who had already completed genetic testing under Xytex’s previous screening protocol were not retested when the expanded protocol took effect.
The addition of hereditary cancer testing does not change their qualification status.
Donors who received Natera’s Empower™ hereditary cancer testing will have that information identified in their donor profiles. Clients and clinics can also use the Empower filter in the donor search to identify donors who received the testing.