Behind the Seizure® Program

Sponsored, no-charge genetic testing
US and Canada

Behind the seizure program

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 knowledge and timely care.

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

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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

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Genetic epilepsies may be hiding behind non-specific symptoms.

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

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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

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Patient story: Naya Edouard

Naya testimonial

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 and Canada must meet the following criteria:

  • Any child under the age of 8 who has had an unprovoked seizure.

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 duotone icon

    Step 1

    Discuss testing and get consent from the eligible patient. Place your order via our convenient online portal.

  • Step 2 duotone icon

    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 and Canada.

  • Genetic testing expert - Invitae icon

    Step 3

    Receive results online and access resources to guide your discussion with patient about their results.

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 located in the US and Canada.

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.

Our sponsors love working with us

Behind the Seizure is offered in partnership with the following sponsors:

References

1. Pal DK, et al. Genetic evaluation and counseling for epilepsy. Nat Rev Neurol. 2010;6:445-453.
2. Amadori E, Scala M, Cereda GS, et al. Targeted re-sequencing for early diagnosis of genetic causes of childhood epilepsy: the Italian experience from the 'beyond epilepsy' project. Ital J Pediatr. 2020;46(1):92. Published 2020 Jul 6. doi:10.1186/s13052-020-00860-1
3. Specchio N, Pietrafusa N, Trivisano M. Changing Times for CLN2 Disease: The Era of Enzyme Replacement Therapy. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2020 Mar 30;16:213-222. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S241048. PMID: 32280231; PMCID: PMC7127909.. 2016 Aug;12(8):465-76.
4. Kaur S, Christodoulou J. MECP2 Disorders. 2001 Oct 3 [updated 2019 Sep 19]. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Bean LJH, Stephens K, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993–2020. PMID: 20301670.. 2016 Aug;12(8):465-76.
5. Truty R et al. Possible precision medicine implications from genetic testing using combined detection of sequence and intragenic copy number variants in a large cohort with childhood epilepsy. Epilepsia Open. 2019;10:28.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored testing program. While third parties and commercial organizations may provide financial support for this program, tests and services are performed by Invitae. Healthcare professionals must confirm that patients meet certain criteria to use the program. Third parties and commercial organizations may receive de-identified (pseudonymized) patient data from this program, but at no time would they receive patient identifiable information. Third parties and commercial organizations may receive contact information for healthcare professionals who use this program. Genetic testing and counseling are available in the US and Canada. Healthcare professionals and patients who participate in this program have no obligation to recommend, purchase, order, prescribe, promote, administer, use or support any other products or services from Invitae or from third parties or commercial organizations.