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Carrier Screening for Inherited Diseases: NextGen 21 Test
NextGen 21 is a precise NGS-based genetic test that checks whether you carry mutations linked to 18 of the most common and most severe inherited diseases — including cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and beta-thalassemia. Developed by NGC, it helps future parents, donors and patients with family risks understand their genetic status before pregnancy.
Request online-consultation
What is carrier screening?
Each of us can be perfectly healthy and still carry a gene change linked to an inherited disease — usually without ever knowing it. Most carriers have no symptoms at all.
The risk appears when both partners carry a change in the same recessive gene. In that case, each pregnancy can have a higher chance of a child affected by a serious condition. Carrier screening is a one-time genetic test that reveals this risk in advance, so you and your doctor can plan with full information.
There are two broad approaches. Expanded panels screen for hundreds of mostly rare conditions; their added clinical benefit over a focused panel is still debated, and they can return findings that are difficult to interpret. Targeted panels like NextGen 21 concentrate on the diseases that are both common and severe — keeping results clear and actionable. Our geneticist can advise which approach fits your situation.
Carrier screening before or early in pregnancy is supported by leading professional bodies such as ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) and ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics).
Who is NextGen 21 for?
Carrier screening can be considered by anyone planning a family. It's especially valuable in the situations below — our geneticist will confirm what's relevant for you.
Couples planning pregnancy or IVF
The best time to test is before conception, when you have the most options.
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Know your genetic status before you start trying
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Identify shared recessive risks as a couple, not just individually
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Plan IVF with PGT if a shared risk is found
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One-time test — results stay valid for future pregnancies
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Reduce the chance of an unexpected diagnosis later
Families with a history of inherited disease
A known condition in the family raises the odds you carry the same gene.
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Cystic fibrosis, beta-thalassemia, SMA in close relatives
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Tay-Sachs, Wilson's disease, Gaucher disease in the family
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A relative who is a known carrier
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A previous child or pregnancy affected by an inherited disease
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Targeted screening for the conditions that matter most to you
Consanguineous couples
Related partners share more DNA — and a higher chance of the same mutation.
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Higher probability both partners carry the same recessive change
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Recommended even with no symptoms on either side
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Clear, couple-level risk assessment before pregnancy
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Geneticist explains your specific reproductive risk
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Options planning if a shared carrier status is found
Higher-risk ethnic backgrounds
Some inherited conditions are more common in certain populations.
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Mediterranean ancestry — higher beta-thalassemia carrier rate
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Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry — higher Tay-Sachs and Gaucher risk
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Screening for conditions relevant to your background
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Pan-ethnic NGS analysis — no assumptions, real data
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Results interpreted in the context of your family history
Egg and sperm donors & recipients
Every NGC donor is screened with NextGen 21.
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Choose a donor with a known genetic status
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Reduces the risk of matching two carriers of the same condition
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Built into NGC's standard donor evaluation
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Adds a layer of safety to donor and embryo programs
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Coordinator helps match donor and recipient genetics
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Suitable for patients with previous IVF failures or recurrent miscarriage
Patients who want a clear, timely decision
When you need to understand your risks quickly and choose the right path.
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A fast, clear answer on your carrier status
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Helps you decide between IVF, PGT or donor options
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Targeted panel means quicker, actionable results
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Avoids delays when planning time-sensitive treatment
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Geneticist helps you weigh the options with confidence
Not sure if you need it?
Carrier screening isn't necessary for everyone, and the right panel depends on your medical history and your plans. Our geneticist will review your background, explain what the test would — and wouldn't — tell you, and recommend the option that fits your situation. No obligation, just clear expert guidance so you can take the next step with confidence.
Genes & diseases covered
NextGen 21 covers 18 inherited diseases, grouped below. Each gene was chosen on three grounds: how severe the condition is, how common it is, and whether knowing early opens the door to planning or intervention. Inheritance type is marked on every entry: AR · AD · X-linked.
Spinal muscular atrophy
Progressive loss of motor neurons and muscle weakness
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Progressive muscle degeneration, mainly affecting boys
Myotonic dystrophy type 1
Progressive, multisystem muscle weakness and wasting
Huntington's disease
Adult-onset progressive neurodegenerative disorder
Charcot-Marie-Tooth
Inherited disorder of the peripheral nerves
Tay-Sachs
Severe inherited neurodegenerative disorder
Beta-thalassemia
Severe inherited anemia requiring ongoing care
Sickle cell disease
Abnormal hemoglobin; pain crises and organ damage
Hemophilia A
Inherited blood-clotting disorder
Phenylketonuria
Metabolic disorder; manageable with early diagnosis and diet
Mucopolysaccharidosis type I
Metabolic storage disorder affecting many organs
Gaucher disease
Inherited lipid-storage disorder
Cystic fibrosis
Chronic, life-shortening disease of the lungs and digestion
Polycystic kidney disease
Kidney cysts that can lead to kidney failure
Wilson's disease
Copper build-up harming liver and brain; treatable if caught early
Familial adenomatous polyposis
Numerous colon polyps; high colorectal cancer risk
Von Hippel–Lindau
Inherited predisposition to tumours and cysts
Hereditary breast & ovarian cancer
Inherited predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer
How the NextGen 21 test works
Request
Submit an online enquiry or order NextGen 21 directly. Our coordinator confirms the details and guides you through every step that follows.
Consultation
An NGC specialist reviews your medical and family history, confirms the test suits your situation, and explains exactly how your sample will be collected.
Sample collection
A blood sample is collected and prepared for analysis at NGC. International patients arrange collection with our coordinators.
NGS analysis
NGC's in-house genetics laboratory sequences all genes on the panel using next-generation sequencing technology and carefully analyses your data.
Report & interpretation
You receive a written report with results and recommendations.
Next steps
If both partners carry the same condition, our geneticist calculates your reproductive risk and explains the options: PGT during IVF, donor programs, prenatal diagnosis and more.
Note: The test is safe, requires no anaesthesia, and is best done before pregnancy — though it can also be performed during pregnancy if needed.
Why choose NextGen 21 at NGC?
A targeted, meaningful panel
NextGen 21 focuses on 18 severe, common inherited diseases rather than hundreds of rare ones. That keeps your results clear, relevant and easy to act on.
High accuracy
The test delivers 99% sensitivity and 99% specificity using next-generation sequencing. You get a result you and your doctor can rely on with confidence.
In-house genetics lab
All sequencing and analysis are performed in NGC's own laboratory, with no outsourcing. That means tighter quality control and faster, more dependable results.
Built into our donor programs
Every egg and sperm donor at NGC is screened with NextGen 21. Recipients can choose a donor with a known genetic status — an extra layer of safety.
Affordable & transparent
NextGen 21 has a clear price from €386 with no hidden fees. Because the sample is taken here, there's no costly overseas shipping of genetic material.
Expert geneticist support
Our geneticists interpret your results and explain what they mean for you. Your doctor then builds individual recommendations tailored to your family's situation.
Fast, actionable results
You receive a written report in around two weeks, followed by a consultation. Knowing your status early gives you the widest range of options to plan ahead.
One ART partner for everything
NextGen 21 connects directly to NGC's IVF, PGT-A and donor programs. International patients also get full coordinator and travel support from start to finish.
Price & what's included
NextGen 21 has a clear, fixed price that covers the full test and your geneticist consultation. Any additional services — such as partner testing or related programs — are quoted separately, so you always know what you're paying for.
- Analysis of the NextGen 21 panel — 18 inherited diseases
- Laboratory work using NGS technology
- A written report with your results
- Geneticist consultation & individual recommendations
- Partner testing
- PGT-A & embryo genetic testing
- Donor programs & infertility treatment
- Recipient medicines (pre- and post-transfer medication support)
Payment: prepayment or payment on visit; cashless options are available for international patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrier screening is a genetic test that shows whether you carry a gene change linked to an inherited disease. Most carriers are completely healthy and have no symptoms. The risk appears only when both partners carry a change in the same recessive gene — then each pregnancy can have a higher chance of an affected child. Knowing your status before pregnancy lets you and your doctor plan with full information.
Expanded panels screen for several hundred mostly rare conditions, but their added clinical benefit over a focused panel is still debated, and they can return findings that are hard to interpret. NextGen 21 concentrates on 18 of the most common and most severe inherited diseases, which keeps your results clear and actionable. If a broader panel suits your situation, our geneticist will tell you.
Leading professional bodies such as ACOG and ACMG support offering carrier screening to anyone planning or already in pregnancy. It is especially relevant if you have a family history of an inherited disease, are in a consanguineous relationship, or come from a higher-risk ethnic background. It is also routine for egg and sperm donors.
Yes. Carrier screening can be done before or during pregnancy. Testing before conception gives you the widest range of options; if you are already pregnant, earlier testing leaves more time to plan. Our coordinator will advise on timing for your situation.
NextGen 21 uses next-generation sequencing with stated analytical sensitivity and specificity of 99%. No genetic test detects 100% of all possible mutations, so a negative result greatly reduces — but does not entirely eliminate — the chance of being a carrier. Your geneticist will explain what your specific result means.
Our geneticist calculates your reproductive risk and walks you through the options. These can include PGT (testing embryos during IVF), using a screened egg or sperm donor, prenatal diagnosis, or other paths. The decision is always yours, made with full guidance.
You can request NextGen 21 and a consultation directly through NGC — our specialist reviews your medical and family history first.
Yes. International patients arrange the test through our coordinators, who handle scheduling, the blood-sample collection and travel support. Your written report and geneticist consultation can be provided remotely.
