What Should I Do if a Hereditary Risk Test Shows a High-Risk Variant?

What Is a Hereditary Risk Test?

A hereditary, or genetic, test is a blood test that can be completed to help determine if you are at risk for any health conditions or disease states. These genetic tests look for inherited changes (or mutations) in DNA that can increase the risk of certain health conditions or diseases developing.

There can be many reasons why people choose to get genetic risk tests completed. From wanting to understand their physiology, to family planning, or to help guide care plans, hereditary risk tests can be good measures of information.

Different types of genetic tests can be considered. There are single-gene tests as well as genetic testing panels, and more large-scale genomic testing. It is best to work with your care provider to determine which test is most appropriate for you.

Everlywell offers the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test, which is one of these types of tests that screens for several cancers before people become symptomatic. This test measures the methylation patterns on cell-free DNA to look to see if there is cancer growing in the body.

What Is a High-Risk Variant?

It can be helpful to understand the different kinds of variants that can be screened for. If you choose to undergo genetic testing, you may end up with a whole host of results that can be hard to interpret. This is why it is helpful to work with a qualified care provider to determine what the high-risk variants are, which variants are really worth focusing on, and what these variants mean.

Many test results can also yield variants of uncertain significance. These are variants that are likely not high-risk and may not warrant follow-up interpretation. However, testing and test results are not black and white, so consult with your provider to ensure that this is the case. Variants of uncertain significance are a normal result; the body is constantly turning over new cells, which means that genetic error can occur without signifying that you are at increased risk for disease development.

The variants that are considered to be high-risk are those that may be pathogenic or likely pathogenic. These are those that signify increased risk of disease development. There is also the potential for variants to be benign or likely benign. In the case of variants being benign, they are unlikely to cause increased risk for disease development.

What Are the Next Steps if You Have High-Risk Variants?

If you test positive for high-risk variants, it is important to have follow-up care. Just because you test positive for these variants does not mean that negative health conditions or diseases will arise. This result simply means that you may be at higher risk. Because of this, it may be recommended to take a more proactive approach to your health to help reduce the chance of diseases occurring. This could be through measures targeted at better nutritional habits, exercise, supplementation, or stress management. Work with your team of providers to come up with a personalized plan to fit your lifestyle and your needs.

If you test positive for a high-risk variant, your provider can help you understand your relative risk depending on which gene has the mutation and other personal factors like gender, age and personal medical history.

Next steps after receiving your results may include genetic counseling to help you come up with a game plan that feels personalized and appropriate to fit your needs. When choosing to get this type of testing completed, many try to adopt the attitude that the more information, the better, and want to understand and know their relative risks.

Who Should Do Testing?

If you are considering getting genetic testing done, it can be helpful to understand if you are a good candidate. People who are good candidates for genetic testing include:

• Those who are at risk of diseases like cancer

• Those who are not undergoing active treatment for diseases like cancer

• Those who are over the age of 50

You might also be a good candidate for testing if you are between the ages of 22 and 49 and have certain risk factors, including:

• Smoking

• History of cancer

• Obesity

• Genetic predisposition to diseases

• Certain jobs or environmental exposures

• Certain autoimmune conditions

This is not an exhaustive list of all people who should consider getting tested. If you are considering testing or think you may be a good candidate based on some of these details (or other factors), it is best to consult your care provider for next steps.

How Does Testing Work?

There are several different kinds of tests you can choose to complete that may have different processes. Everlywell offers the Galleri test, which is straightforward in terms of testing for these variants and the process involved. To complete this test, you will:

• Request a test from your provider, who will generate the lab order.

• Schedule the blood draw, which can be done at a lab local to you.

• Have the lab send the results, which are usually ready within two to four weeks after arriving at the lab.

While all genetic tests may vary, the Galleri test will either produce a result in which high-risk variants for cancer are, or are not, detected. Next steps will be based on these results and will be in partnership with your care provider. Testing processes are the same as those needed for any other lab draw.

FAQs

What does a positive result mean for high-risk variants?

If you receive a positive result for a high-risk variant, it could mean that you have a genetic change that can be associated with increased risk for disease development. Follow-up care is warranted to confirm these results and to generate a care plan.

What does a negative result mean for high-risk variants?

If you receive a negative result during genetic testing, this means that the lab did not find any genetic changes in disease-causing variants. Following up with your healthcare provider may still be prudent if you have a family history of cancer or other diseases.

Will I need genetic counseling?

After you get your results, genetic counseling can be helpful if there is an inherited cancer risk or risk of other disease development. During this time, a provider can better explain what your risk may be and the next steps that could be most helpful for you.

Are there any downsides of getting testing?

If you are considering getting tested, there may be some considerations to think about, including whether results may increase psychological stress, the cost of the tests, and the possibility of receiving incorrect information. It is important to discuss all of these factors with your care team prior to going for testing so that you are making the choice that is in your best interest.

What are the benefits of testing?

There are several benefits of testing for this kind of health information, including getting peace of mind if results are negative, understanding health risks, and being able to optimize health status by knowing more information. If results are positive, the information can help guide treatment plans, if you are already treating the disease, or have in the past.

Optimizing your health is not something you need to do alone. Find out more about your inner physiology today and take the next steps towards health improvement with Everlywell.

References

1. Genetic testing. Genomics and Your Health. Published May 15, 2024. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/counseling-testing/genetic-testing.html

2. Wendler R. Genetic testing found a variant of uncertain significance. Now what? MD Anderson Cancer Center. Published September 29, 2021. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/genetic-testing-found-a-variant-of-uncertain-significance--now-what.h00-159464001.html

3. What do your genetic test results mean? What Do Your Genetic Test Results Mean? Last reviewed 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.facingourrisk.org/info/hereditary-cancer-and-genetic-testing/genetic-testing/types-of-test-results

4. Genetic testing fact sheet. Cancer.gov. Published April 18, 2024. Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/genetic-testing-fact-sheet#what-is-genetic-testing-for-inherited-cancer-risk