Get tested at home today and see what your genes can tell you about your health 10, 15, even 20 years ahead.

Genetic tests for health are all based on the same science—taking a sample of blood or saliva, looking at the genes found there, and searching for abnormalities. Yet, there are actually a few different kinds of tests out there. And they all can tell you something a little different.

The first category is diagnostic genetic tests. These are used to help determine if certain symptoms are being caused by a disease, like muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis. “They help you find a medical diagnosis for unexplained symptoms or confirm a suspected disease,” says Jenna Finley, a certified genetic counselor with genetic testing company Invitae.

The second group is reproductive genetic tests, which are all related to pregnancy. “You can get these tests done before you get pregnant, to see your risk for passing on a condition, or during the pregnancy, to see if the developing baby has any chromosomal abnormalities,” explains Finley.

While those first two categories of genetic tests are often done in partnership with your healthcare provider, there’s a third type that is now commonly conducted by anyone, anytime: preventive genetic tests. “These can be done on people who are pretty healthy and just want to see if they have a higher risk for diseases like cancer or heart disease compared to the general population,” says Finley. To be clear: This kind of genetic analysis is very different from the “DNA tests” you can do that tell you things like your ancestry, advises Finley. “These are performed as serious medical tests,” she says.

As advanced as the science is that has led to preventive genetic tests, the process for getting one done is pretty simple. For example, through Invitae, you just fill out a family history form, decide what conditions you want to screen for (cardio diseases, cancers, etc.), and start the process online. An independent clinician will review your information and send a sample collection kit to you. After receiving it in the mail, take a saliva sample and send it back. In a few weeks you’ll get your results, along with an included session with a genetic counselor, who will help you unpack the test results. And, depending on the screening, the whole thing will only set you back $250. Bonus: Tests may be purchased with FSA funds.

Why do all that if you feel totally healthy? Because you might be at a higher risk for certain diseases and have no idea. “We did a study to see how often people came back with a positive result, meaning they had a genetic mutation that could raise their risk of something, and it was one out of every six people,” says Finley. “That’s not saying they would definitely get the disease in the future, just that their risk was higher.”

As is true in many situations: Knowledge really is power here. “The results can be scary at first, like finding out that you have a higher risk of breast cancer, but you can take those results to your doctor and come up with a proactive plan,” says Finley. You may start screening for the disease earlier than you otherwise would. Perhaps you schedule more regular doctor’s appointments or learn some self-assessment tools you can do at home. “All of the diseases we test for have specific actions you can take—lifestyle changes or medical interventions—to reduce your risk,” says Finley. “Most people find that having the ability to catch something early is worth the scariness of going through the genetic testing.”

This is also where meeting with a genetic counselor may help. They can assist with next-step solutions to see the steps forward more clearly, reducing your risk now so you may stay healthy in the future.

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