More than one million patients and their providers have trusted GeneDx to provide personalized insights through genetic testing. We have been providing diagnostic testing for rare disorders and diseases for more than 20 years. We give healthcare providers clear, accurate, and useful genetic information to help you fully understand your genetic health and make healthcare decisions.
Genes are instructions that tell our bodies how to grow and develop. Sometimes, genetic changes (called variants) in our DNA might cause a health problem or affect development.
A doctor may be able to tell what kind of illness or condition a patient has based on their physical symptoms. Other times, more information is needed in addition to clinical features to find a diagnosis. Many health problems have a genetic cause. Finding a diagnosis can help your healthcare provider more fully understand:
This means we found a genetic change known to cause symptoms or a specific genetic disorder.
This means there were no genetic changes that explain your health condition. In this case, depending on the test ordered, your provider may order follow-up testing.
This means we found a change in your genes, but we can’t say for sure if this has anything to do with your health problem because we don’t have enough scientific evidence yet. In this case, depending on the test ordered, your provider might suggest additional follow-up.
This means that we identified a genetic change that is unrelated to the reason your provider ordered testing. This kind of information, which is only relevant to exome and genome tests, is not required to be given and is present in about 3 percent of people. This second finding might tell you if you have a higher chance of getting cancer or heart disease, depending on your first results. Before your provider orders a test, you should talk to them about secondary findings and let them know if you’d like to get these kinds of test results. Your doctor or nurse can also help you figure out what to do next, suggest a treatment plan, or put you in touch with other helpful people.
When choosing to pursue genetic testing, patients or their guardians must give informed consent for clinical genetic testing. According to this, the person has been told about the pros, cons, and limits of genetic testing and has agreed to go ahead with it. GeneDx’s consent also lets the patient choose whether to receive secondary results and be contacted for research purposes in the future.
Click here to see GeneDx’s genetic testing informed consent form and rules about getting in touch for research purposes in the future, using de-identified data, and keeping specimens.
Before and/or after you order genetic testing, your provider may offer genetic counseling as part of their testing support. GeneDx offers comprehensive genetic counseling services with a referral from your healthcare provider.
A genetic counselor is a health care professional who has been trained in medical genetics and counseling and is good at explaining how genetic testing works. A genetic counselor may look at your family history, talk to you about the pros and cons of genetic testing, go over the results of your test, offer resources and support, and help you decide if other family members should also be tested.
Talk with your healthcare provider to request a referral. Once received, we will contact you to schedule an appointment.
After talking to your provider, if you still have questions, you can call our patient counseling team at (888) 729-1206, option 7, or email [email protected]. com.
Preparing for an interview at GeneDx can feel daunting, but going in with some knowledge of what to expect can set you up for success. GeneDx is a world leader in genomic analysis, so they are looking for candidates with strong technical skills, attention to detail, and passion for advancing genomic medicine. In this article, we’ll cover some of the most commonly asked GeneDx interview questions along with tips for crafting your best answers.
Background on GeneDx
GeneDx is a genetic testing laboratory that provides testing services for rare and ultra-rare genetic disorders. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. GeneDx is a subsidiary of OPKO Health, Inc.
Some key facts about GeneDx
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GeneDx offers over 3,500 clinical genetic testing options including whole exome sequencing, genome sequencing, and panels that are focused on specific disorders.
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GeneDx has helped diagnose over 400000 patients worldwide. Their testing has identified over 35,000 genetic variants that cause disease.
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GeneDx employs over 500 people including dozens of PhD geneticists, genetic counselors, and bioinformaticians.
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GeneDx is CLIA and CAP accredited and follows rigorous quality control procedures.
Knowing some background on GeneDx will help you understand the company’s mission and priorities when preparing for your interview. Now let’s get into some of the common interview questions you may face.
Technical Interview Questions
Since GeneDx is highly focused on genomics and bioinformatics, you can expect very technical interview questions if you are applying for roles like genetic counselor, scientist, or engineer. Here are some examples along with suggestions for strong answers:
Q: What experience do you have with next generation sequencing (NGS) methods and how does NGS work?
A: Highlight hands-on experience you have with NGS techniques like whole genome or exome sequencing. Explain the basic workflow of NGS which involves fragmenting DNA, adaptor ligation, clonal amplification, sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis. Emphasize your understanding of the chemistry behind NGS and how sequencing data is analyzed.
Q: What quality control steps are important when performing genetic testing?
A: Discuss quality control measures like including positive and negative controls with patient samples, using validated reagents and instruments that are properly calibrated, repeating anomalous results, and having thorough standard operating procedures for each test protocol. Emphasize the importance of quality control for providing accurate results to physicians and patients.
Q: How do you stay current with new genetics research and technological advances in the field?
A: Genomics is a fast-moving field, so highlight the sources you rely on to stay up-to-date including scientific journals, conferences, continuing education, genomics blogs, and networking with colleagues. Share 1-2 recent advances in genomics that caught your interest and how they could impact genetic testing.
Q: What bioinformatics tools are you familiar with and how have you used them?
A: Give examples of bioinformatics programs, scripts, or databases you have used such as BWA for sequence alignment, GATK for variant calling, IGV for visualization, ClinVar as a variant database, and R or Python for data analysis. Explain your hands-on experience applying these tools to analyze genetic data.
Q: Explain the process of calling copy number variants from NGS data. What are some challenges?
A: Outline the main steps which include normalizing read depth, partitioning the genome into bins, comparing bin read counts to controls, identifying deletions and duplications, and filtering out false positives. Challenges include accounting for biases in coverage, distinguishing variants from experimental noise, and accurately calling complex variants. Emphasize your experience detecting CNVs from real sequencing data.
These types of in-depth technical questions will assess your working knowledge of genetics, current lab techniques, variant interpretation, and bioinformatics. Be ready to dive deep into the details and don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something – part of the job is quickly learning new concepts in this rapidly advancing field.
Behavioral Interview Questions
In addition to assessing your technical abilities, GeneDx interviewers will also want to evaluate your soft skills and cultural fit through behavioral interview questions. Some examples include:
Q: Tell me about a time you had to quickly learn a new technique or protocol. How did you approach this?
Highlight your adaptability and passion for continuous learning. Share how you trained yourself on the new method, asked colleagues for help, and applied a systematic approach to get proficient. Emphasize the importance of quickly mastering new methods in order to provide the best care for patients.
Q: Describe a challenging situation you faced when interacting with a coworker. How did you handle this?
Choose an example that demonstrates your communication, empathy, and conflict resolution skills. Explain how you approached your co-worker, had an open and understanding dialogue to get to the root of the issue, and came up with a mutually agreeable solution. Frame this as an opportunity for growth.
Q: Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work. What did you learn?
We all make mistakes, so don’t be afraid to share one from your past. Pick a meaningful example and walk through what went wrong, how you took accountability, the actions you took to remedy the situation, and process improvements you implemented for the future. Show that you can reflect on and grow from mistakes.
Q: How would your coworkers describe your work style?
Emphasize strengths like being highly collaborative, communicative, meticulous, hard-working, analytical, and so on. Back up these claims with concrete examples. For areas you want to improve, mention how you are developing those skills. Overall, convey a passion for working with a dynamic team.
Q: Why do you want to work in the field of genomics and what interests you about GeneDx?
Share what draws you to human genetics and applying genome sequencing to improve patient care. Highlight GeneDx’s leadership in clinical genomic testing and some of their offerings or values that resonate with you. Express excitement about contributing to GeneDx’s mission.
These questions aim to get a sense of your personality, perspective, and cultural fit. Be honest and lean on real examples from your past experience to illustrate desired behaviors and competencies. This shows you already embrace the values GeneDx seeks in employees.
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
The interview is also an opportunity for you to assess if GeneDx seems like a good fit, so bring thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers. Some options include:
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How would you describe the work culture and values at GeneDx?
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What opportunities are there for continuing education and professional development?
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What qualities does someone need to thrive in this position/team?
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What challenges is the company facing and how is GeneDx positioned to tackle them?
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How is success measured for this role? What goals would I be working towards?
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What is your own experience working at GeneDx? What do you enjoy most?
Smart questions demonstrate your interest in GeneDx specifically and show you’ve done your homework on the company. Be sure to listen carefully and ask relevant follow-ups to have a meaningful dialogue. This two-way conversation will give you a better sense of day-to-day life at GeneDx.
Tips for Acing Your GeneDx Interview
With preparation and practice, you can tackle any question thrown your way and have an outstanding interview with GeneDx. Here are some final tips:
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Thoroughly research GeneDx’s services, mission, and culture so you can speak knowledgeably about the company.
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Review the job description and your own resume – be ready to speak in depth about your related experience.
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Practice answering questions out loud to polish your responses. Time yourself to keep answers concise.
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Prepare examples and anecdotes ahead of time to illustrate skills and achievements. Gather figures when possible.
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Plan questions to ask that demonstrate your interest and understanding of GeneDx’s work.
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Dress professionally and arrive early. Bring copies of your resume, work samples, references, etc.
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Make eye contact and project confidence and passion throughout the interview. Follow up promptly with thank you notes.
With tailored preparation for GeneDx, you can highlight the specialized skills and genuine interest that make you the ideal candidate. Do your homework, practice responding succinctly, and show your excitement, and you will be ready to excel in your GeneDx interview.
[Patient quote about how GeneDx made a difference in their journey could be powerful. Imagery of the actual patient/family would be ideal if we have it.]
Genes are instructions that tell our bodies how to grow and develop. Sometimes, genetic changes (called variants) in our DNA might cause a health problem or affect development.
A doctor may be able to tell what kind of illness or condition a patient has based on their physical symptoms. Other times, more information is needed in addition to clinical features to find a diagnosis. Many health problems have a genetic cause. Finding a diagnosis can help your healthcare provider more fully understand:
What to expect for the future
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) and whole exome sequencing (WES) are two types of genetic testing that look for changes in a person’s genes across all of their genetic information at once. This could help your doctor make a diagnosis faster without having to do as many tests.
Genetic testing can deliver several types of results:
Positive (or diagnostic)
This means we found a genetic change known to cause symptoms or a specific genetic disorder.
Negative (or non-diagnostic)
This means there were no genetic changes that explain your health condition. In this case, depending on the test ordered, your provider may order follow-up testing.
Variant of uncertain significance (VUS)
This means we found a change in your genes, but we can’t say for sure if this has anything to do with your health problem because we don’t have enough scientific evidence yet. In this case, depending on the test ordered, your provider might suggest additional follow-up.
Secondary Finding
This means that we identified a genetic change that is unrelated to the reason your provider ordered testing. This kind of information, which is only relevant to exome and genome tests, is not required to be given and is present in about 3 percent of people. This second finding might tell you if you have a higher chance of getting cancer or heart disease, depending on your first results. Before your provider orders a test, you should talk to them about secondary findings and let them know if you’d like to get these kinds of test results. Your doctor or nurse can also help you figure out what to do next, suggest a treatment plan, or put you in touch with other helpful people.
When choosing to pursue genetic testing, patients or their guardians must give informed consent for clinical genetic testing. According to this, the person has been told about the pros, cons, and limits of genetic testing and has agreed to go ahead with it. GeneDx’s consent also lets the patient choose whether to receive secondary results and be contacted for research purposes in the future.
Click here to see GeneDx’s genetic testing informed consent form and rules about getting in touch for research purposes in the future, using de-identified data, and keeping specimens.
Here’s a quick overview of how the genetic testing process works:
- Your doctor chooses the right test, gets the necessary medical records and family information, and then places the order.
- A cheek swab, blood sample, or other sample is taken and sent to GeneDx.
- Our lab receives and analyzes the sample(s)
- Your provider receives the results
- Your doctor may tell you to talk to a genetic counselor based on the results.
Before and/or after you order genetic testing, your provider may offer genetic counseling as part of their testing support. GeneDx offers comprehensive genetic counseling services with a referral from your healthcare provider.
A genetic counselor is a health care professional who has been trained in medical genetics and counseling and is good at explaining how genetic testing works. A genetic counselor may look at your family history, talk to you about the pros and cons of genetic testing, go over the results of your test, offer resources and support, and help you decide if other family members should also be tested.
GeneDx’s patient counseling team and our independent partners offer:
Pre-test genetic counseling pursuant to your health insurance requirements
Post-test genetic counseling at no additional cost
Flexible appointment times, including evenings and weekends
Support and guidance for you and your family
Talk with your healthcare provider to request a referral. Once received, we will contact you to schedule an appointment.
After talking to your provider, if you still have questions, you can call our patient counseling team at (888) 729-1206, option 7, or email [email protected]. com.
GeneDx: Enabling Operational Growth with DRAGEN
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