Skip to Main Content

Looks like you’re visiting UCSF Health on Internet Explorer. For the best experience, try Chrome or Firefox.

UCSF Health
Popular Searches
University of California San Francisco
  • Conditions & Treatments
    Conditions & Treatments
    EPILEPSY BREAKTHROUGH

    Stopping Seizures Before They Start

    • Find Conditions

    • Find Treatments

    • Clinical Trials

    • Patient Education

    • Medical Tests

  • Doctors
    Doctors
    MEET OUR DOCTORS
    Dr. Jasleen Kukreja and the Life-Saving Gift of Breath
    • Find a Doctor

    • Doctor Stories

    • Get a Second Opinion

  • Clinics & Locations
    Clinics & Locations
    BAKAR PRECISION CANCER MEDICINE BUILDING
    Care, Convenience and Support at New Cancer Facility
    • Find a Clinic

    • Locations & Directions

    • Urgent Care

    • Emergency Care

    • Partners & Affiliates

    • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals

  • Patients & Visitors
    Patients & Visitors
    KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
    10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit
    • Your Hospital Stay

    • For Visitors

    • International Services

    • For Caregivers

    • Support, Services & Groups

    • Billing & Insurance

    • Help Paying Your Bill

    • Pricing Transparency

    • 340B Drug Pricing Program

    • Medical Records

    • Patient Relations

  • Why Choose Us?
    Why Choose Us?
    U.S. News Best Hospital Rankings
    UCSF Health Ranked Among Nation's Top 10 Hospitals
    • Our Mission

    • Quality of Patient Care

    • Patient Stories

    • Embracing Diversity

    • Our Leadership

  • Refer a Patient
  • MyChart
  • Request Appointment
  • Get a Second Opinion
  • Call us: (888) 689-8273
University of California San Francisco
Programs

Whole Genome Sequencing Program

Request appointment
Refer a patient

Rapid whole genome sequencing is a state-of-the-art test that can quickly identify genetic disorders in a fetus or baby with unexplained health complications. It's the most comprehensive genetic test available.

While other genetic tests look at a small number of genes to check for a few specific conditions, whole genome sequencing analyzes the patient's entire genome (all the genes and the DNA between genes). By casting the widest net possible, we can quickly detect a large array of genetic issues, including rare conditions that might otherwise go undiagnosed. Finding the underlying cause allows doctors to determine the best care for your baby from the start.

Pregnant patients can access fetal testing at our Fetal Treatment Center, and newborn testing is available to babies in our neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Rapid whole genome sequencing is performed and analyzed here at UCSF, and results are available quickly – usually within two to four weeks. Getting results fast can be particularly important for conditions that need prompt treatment. For example, early intervention can dramatically change the course of inherited metabolic disorders, such as lysosomal storage diseases.

Benefits

Benefits of whole genome sequencing include:

  • Tens of thousands of genes are analyzed at once, so we can quickly detect almost any genetic issue.
  • Results can be used to determine the best course of care during pregnancy, at delivery and after birth.
  • If you plan to have more children, the results can help us estimate the chances of the same condition occurring again and enable more accurate prenatal diagnoses in future pregnancies.

Eligibility

Our Fetal Treatment Center offers rapid whole genome sequencing to pregnant patients if:

  • An ultrasound shows a physical abnormality (or multiple abnormalities) in one or more of the fetus's major organ systems.
  • You had or will have prenatal testing with amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). (If you don't have these tests during pregnancy, your baby may be able to have rapid whole genome sequencing after birth; see the criteria for newborns below.)
  • At least one biological parent can provide a DNA sample (blood or saliva) to help with interpretation of the genome sequencing results.

We offer rapid whole genome sequencing for newborns in our NICUs for various reasons, including:

  • The baby has physical features that suggest a genetic condition.
  • Abnormal results on newborn tests suggest a genetic disease.
  • The baby has unexplained seizures.
  • The baby is seriously ill and the cause is unknown.
  • There's a family history of genetic disorders.
  • A prenatal ultrasound indicated a significant abnormality, but you didn't have amniocentesis or CVS before delivery.

As with fetal testing, at least one biological parent must provide a DNA sample (blood or saliva) for a newborn to have rapid whole genome sequencing.

Our locations (4)

    Awards & recognition

    • U S  News and World Report badge recognizing UCSF as part of its 2024 to 2025 Honor Roll

      Among the top hospitals in the nation

    • U S News and World Report badge recognizing UCSF as one of the Best Children's Hospitals for Neonatology, 2023-2024

      Top 10 in the nation for neonatology (UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals)

    • n1-2x

      in number of fetal surgery clinical trials

    • 1st-2x

      successful open fetal surgery in the world

    Did you know?

    UCSF became the birthplace of fetal surgery in 1981, when Dr. Michael Harrison performed the first successful open surgery on a fetus in the womb to correct a life-threatening birth defect. Our Fetal Treatment Center continues to be a world leader in caring for babies before they take their first breath.

    UCSF Health
    Follow UCSF Health:
    Getting Care
    • Find a Doctor
    • Emergency Care
    • Primary Care
    • All Medical Services
    • International Services
    • Price Transparency
    • Help Paying Your Bill
    Getting Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Join Our Team
    About Us
    • Locations & Directions
    • Contact Us
    • Contact Patient Relations
    • Media Resources
    • Accessibility Resources
    • Report Misconduct
    • Website Privacy Policy
    • Quality of Patient Care
    • Crisis Standards of Care
    • Our Organization
    • UCSF News
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    Research and Education
    • Clinical Trials
    • UC San Francisco
    • UCSF School of Medicine
    • UCSF School of Nursing
    • UCSF School of Pharmacy
    Referring Physicians
    • Refer a Patient
    • Transfer a Patient
    • MDLink
    • Request a Consultation
    • Physician Channel
    Follow UCSF Health:
    © 2002 - 2025. The Regents of The University of California.
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Some stock photos, posed by model.

    Share

    • Email Link
    • Copy Link
    • Share on Facebook
    • Share on LinkedIn
    • Share on X