Behind the Seizure® Program

Sponsored, no-charge genetic testing
US

What is the Behind the Seizure® program?

Genetic testing may bring you closer to understanding what's causing your patient's epilepsy, helping your patients and their caregivers benefit from deeper knowlegdge and timely care.

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About Epilepsy

More than 50% of epilepsies have some genetic basis.

When a patient presents with seizures, genetic testing can help identify 100+ underlying genetic causes. Early genetic testing may be the most direct, cost-effective, and accurate diagnostic tool.¹

Delay can be devastating for patients with genetic epilepsy.

Some genetic epilepsies are neurodegenerative, and may initially present with subtle, non-specific symptoms like language development delay and/or motor disturbance. Genetic testing may help identify the cause of epilepsy before a patient experiences the hallmark signs of regression.²

Genetic epilepsies may be hiding behind non-specific symptoms.

Language delay, motor disturbance, and intellectual impairment can precede seizure onset and may be useful early indicators for molecular genetic testing.^3,4

Many genes are actionable.

Gene panels increasingly help tailor your approach-more than 30 genes have been linked to disease management strategies. Identifying a seizure's underlying etiology can enable more precise disease management strategies.⁵

“

Two years after Naya started missing developmental milestones—and nearly a year after a neurologist first suggested genetic testing—the Edouard family finally has answers, thanks to the Behind the Seizure® program. ”

- Alexis Edouard

Read Naya's story

Program eligibility

To be eligible for this program, patients in the US must meet the following criteria

Children under the age of 10 who experienced their first unprovoked seizure between 2 and 5 years of age (inclusive)

For children outside of this criteria, please see the Invitae Unlock^TM Epilepsy Program

Test options

This program offers testing with the following panel. Learn more about the panels in our test catalog before placing your order on this program page.

How to order

Our easy-to-order panels align with professional guidelines, making your potential next steps clearer.

Step 1
Discuss testing and get consent from the eligible patient. Place your order via our convenient online portal.
Step 2
Collect your patient’s specimen using an Invitae collection kit and return it. Use the label provided to ship most samples at no additional charge from the US.
Step 3
Receive results online and access resources to guide your discussion with patient about their results.

See how it works

Next steps and additional services

Woman smiling while providing genetic expert support

Genetic counseling services

Individuals tested through the Behind the Seizure program are eligible for post-test genetic counseling to help them understand their test results. This service is made available by Invitae at no charge as part of the program for patients.

Patients can access genetic counseling by scheduling a session through their patient portal or by contacting Invitae Client Services at 1-800-436-3037 and asking to schedule a genetic counseling appointment.