Why test as a couple?
Carrier status alone usually isn't dangerous. It's when two people carry the same gene that risk appears. That's why we test in pairs, not just individuals.
Want Kids One Day?
Know before you grow.
A simple at-home test for couples who want kids one day. So you know what you might pass on before you do.
Genetic Diseases shouldn't be a mystery.
Most couples don't know they're carriers for a genetic condition until they're already raising a child who has one. But carrier status isn't rare, everyone carries 2-5 recessive disease genes without knowing it, and it doesn't run in families the way people expect. You can be the first person in your family history to carry a gene, with no warning and no way to know, unless you test for it. That's exactly what happened to us. We built Heirloom so you can know before you grow.
- 80%
- of children with a genetic condition have no family history of it
- 1 in 4
- children are affected when both partners carry the same gene
- 254+
- conditions screened in one simple, at-home test
What is tested?
Over 250 genetic conditions. One simple test tells you and your partner what you might pass on to your children.
Testing is Knowledge
See the Full ListOUR STORY
BBS — Lucy Pothier
THE storybehindheirloom
THE storybehindheirloom
It wasn't until the fifth kid in our family, little Lucy, that we found out something we never expected: we were both carriers of the same rare genetic condition, Bardet-Biedl Syndrome. Lucy wasn't diagnosed until she was three years old.
Neither of us had a family history of it. Neither of us had ever heard of it. There was no reason for us to think to test for it, and at the time, no easy way to even if we had.
We didn't do anything wrong. We just didn't know, because there was no way for us to know.
When it came to our kids having children, they wanted to test to see if they were also carriers. That's why our family built Heirloom. Not because genetic disease runs in families in some obvious way, it usually doesn't. It can happen to anyone. We just want couples to have the chance to know, before they don't.
Testing is Easy
STEP 1
Order your kit
STEP 2
Swab your cheek with your partner
STEP 3
Mail it back
Receiving Results
Family Preview
Jake & Emily's kids have a 1 in 4 chance of developing:
Bardet-Biedl syndrome 10Knowing is just the first step. If you're both carriers, you're not alone.
We will connect you to an entire community for your individual diagnosis of those going through what you are.
Explore Communities
Cystic Fibrosis
Causes thick mucus buildup that damages the lungs and digestive system over time.
LEARN MORECystic Fibrosis
Causes thick mucus buildup that damages the lungs and digestive system over time.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Weakens the muscles used for movement, breathing, and swallowing, often appearing in infancy.
LEARN MORESpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Weakens the muscles used for movement, breathing, and swallowing, often appearing in infancy.
Fragile X Syndrome
is the most common inherited cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the leading known genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder. It's caused by a change in a single gene on the X chromosome, which affects how the brain develops. Symptoms can include learning disabilities, delayed speech and language development, and more.
LEARN MOREFragile X Syndrome
The most common inherited cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Sickle Cell Disease
Causes red blood cells to form a crescent shape, leading to pain, anemia, and organ damage.
LEARN MORESickle Cell Disease
Causes red blood cells to form a crescent shape, leading to pain, anemia, and organ damage.
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS)
Affects vision, weight regulation, kidney function, and several other body systems.
LEARN MOREBardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS)
Affects vision, weight regulation, kidney function, and several other body systems.
Tay-Sachs Disease
A severe condition that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
LEARN MORETay-Sachs Disease
A severe condition that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Beta Thalassemia
Reduces the body's ability to produce healthy hemoglobin, leading to anemia.
LEARN MOREBeta Thalassemia
Reduces the body's ability to produce healthy hemoglobin, leading to anemia.
Only what matters, for both of you
HeirloomOthers- One kit, two partners
- Results, read together
- Physician review, shared
- Collected at home
- HIPAA-compliant
- One private portal for two
FAQ
What is Heirloom Genetics?
Heirloom is a simple, at-home genetic test built for couples who want to know if they carry the same gene for a genetic condition, before they have children. We test both partners for over 250 conditions and pair your results with a genetic counselor who helps you understand what they mean.
What genetic insights will Heirloom give me?
You'll learn whether you're a carrier for any of the 250+ conditions we screen for, and just as importantly, whether you and your partner carry the same one. Carrying a gene on its own usually isn't dangerous, it only becomes a real risk to your future children when both partners carry the same condition.
How is Heirloom different from what's offered in clinics?
Traditional carrier screening usually starts with a doctor's visit, a lab order, and weeks of back and forth before you even get your kit. Heirloom is built to be simple from the start: order online, test at home, and get results explained to you clearly, without needing to navigate the healthcare system just to ask a basic question about your own genetics. Heirloom is built to give you results before you are already growing you child so that you have all the information so that you can know before you grow.
Will this tell me if my child will definitely have a genetic disease?
No. Carrier screening tells you and your partner's carrier status, not your child's future. If you're both carriers of the same condition, each pregnancy has roughly a 1 in 4 chance of the child being affected, not a certainty. This information is meant to help you understand your risk and your options, not predict an outcome.
Can I test on my own or do I have to have a partner?
You can test on your own, but Heirloom is built and priced as a pair for a reason: carrier status usually only matters when both partners carry the same gene. Testing together gives you the full picture, testing alone only gives you half of it.
How do I use this information?
Your results help you understand your risk before you're already pregnant, so you have time to make informed choices, whether that's family planning options, connecting with a specialist, or simply knowing what to watch for. Every result comes with guidance from a genetic counselor to help you figure out your next step, if there is one.
How do I get my results?
Once your samples reach our lab, you'll be notified as soon as your results are ready. You can access them securely online, and you'll have the option to review them with a genetic counselor.
How long does it take to get my results?
Most results are ready within 4-6 weeks of your kit arriving at our lab.
Should I take this test before I get pregnant?
Ideally, yes, that's when this information gives you the most options. But this test is valuable at any stage. If you're already pregnant, knowing your results still gives you time to prepare and understand what to expect. And if you already have children, it's just as important: the 1 in 4 risk applies to every pregnancy individually, not cumulatively, which means you can have several children with no signs of a condition and still both be carriers. Knowledge is powerful at every stage of building a family, not just the very beginning.
Can I talk to a genetic counselor?
Yes. Every Heirloom test includes access to a board-certified genetic counselor who can walk you through your results, answer questions, and help you understand what your next steps might look like.
You can't choose your genes. But you can choose to know them.
ORDER YOUR KITGET YOUR KIT
CAP & CLIA certified lab
Board-certified clinician review
100% private & secure
Results in 4–7 days