DDC Clinic Expands GAP Testing Capabilities

June 6, 2025

DDC Clinic is pleased to announce the recent expansion of its innovative Genetic Awareness Panel (GAP). With the addition of 40 disease-causing mutations, the new GAP Version 4 is a major advancement in the clinic’s genetic testing capabilities, enabling its molecular diagnostic laboratory to now test for 270 rare conditions found in Amish populations.

“This is another significant step forward in the growth of DDC Clinic and its commitment to furthering personalized patient care,” said Dr. Heng Wang, Medical Director. “With GAP, we can offer affordable and accurate genetic testing that can change the course of a patient’s health journey.”

Developed in 2018 by the clinic’s molecular diagnostics laboratory, GAP is a powerful, state-of-the-art diagnostic tool that uses a patient’s blood sample to simultaneously test for hundreds of rare genetic conditions. Since its launch, GAP has significantly improved early diagnosis, helping to prevent the progression of devastating genetic disorders and life-threatening health complications.

When performed as a supplement to state newborn screening, GAP can detect conditions not tested for in standard screenings. GAP is also used for children and adults to identify predisposition to genetic disorders, diagnose suspected genetic disorders, and check for carrier status for genetic disorders which could get passed on to future generations.

To date, DDC Clinic has performed nearly 2,800 GAP tests. Proven to be life-changing, even life-saving, GAP has provided long-awaited answers to families who have been impacted for generations by undiagnosed conditions.

Before GAP, families often had to cope with a long, drawn out diagnostic process. Delays in diagnosis and treatment were often detrimental to children, and frequent hospitalizations were stressful and devastating, creating financial and emotional hardship for families.

“The enormous benefits of GAP testing for patients and their families cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Wang. “It has dramatically improved our patient diagnosis rate, and helped our fellow clinicians across the country and around the globe to diagnose rare conditions in their patients. GAP truly is personalized medicine in action. With GAP Version 4, we now have the ability to test for many more rare genetic conditions and change even more lives.”

Committed to keeping genetic testing affordable, DDC Clinic has not increased pricing for its newly enhanced GAP testing for new patients. In addition, patients who previously had GAP testing can get testing with the new version for only 50% of the full cost.