FAQs

M.A.G.I.C. Clinic accepts referrals related to hereditary cancer, including cases where a patient has had certain types of cancer or has a concerning family history.

• The primary service provided is a genetic consultation, which may include genetic counselling as a key part of the visit. Decisions about genetic testing depend on the individual situation and provincial coverage criteria.
• For patients seen in Alberta, publicly funded genetic testing may be available if provincial eligibility requirements are met. When public testing is unlikely to be covered, private testing may be discussed. Depending on the information provided at referral, an appointment may be offered in Calgary with the understanding that private testing could be recommended, or the referral may be redirected to an appropriate pathway in the patient’s home province.
• If a family member has already undergone genetic testing, a copy of the laboratory report and a complete family history (using a tool we provide) are required before an appointment can be scheduled.

Absence of heterozygosity (AOH) means that certain regions of the child’s genes are identical, rather than having one set from each parent. In some cases, this can contribute to a medical or developmental condition, and autism is a common reason for referral in children with AOH findings.

• Determining whether specific genes within these regions explain a diagnosis is complex and typically requires techniques not available through publicly funded testing. At M.A.G.I.C. Clinic, we may use whole genome sequencing (WGS) to analyze the regions of AOH and interpret whether a genetic cause can be identified.
• Because this analysis requires private testing, all referring providers and parents/caregivers must understand that there is a cost associated before scheduling an appointment. We require documentation confirming this understanding to ensure families are informed prior to booking.

M.A.G.I.C. Clinic focuses on identifying genetic causes of autism or related neurodevelopmental disorders. We do not diagnose autism itself; that should be done by a qualified specialist such as a neurodevelopmental pediatrician or psychologist.

Our approach typically begins with reviewing any prior genetic tests (for example, chromosomal microarray or Fragile X testing) ordered by the referring healthcare provider. If the results are abnormal, unexplained, or incomplete, we may use whole genome sequencing (WGS) to provide a comprehensive analysis. WGS allows us to examine all coding and non-coding regions of DNA, giving the best chance of identifying a genetic cause when prior tests are inconclusive.

• We do not order whole exome sequencing (WES) or gene panels as a general screen, and we only work with laboratories that provide raw sequencing data suitable for diagnostic interpretation. Testing is performed only when it aligns with the consultation goal of identifying a potential genetic cause.
• For families considering future pregnancies, identifying a genetic cause can help estimate recurrence risk. Prenatal testing is only possible if genetic diagnosis has been established. Referrals are accepted only when the referring healthcare provider has discussed this context with the patient or family.
• We do not order folate receptor antibody testing or prescribe folinic acid for autism, as current scientific evidence does not support this approach.
• Referrals may be declined if the goal of the referral does not align with our scope of practice or if this has not been clearly communicated to patients or caregivers.

• Consultations during pregnancy are treated as a priority, and self-referrals may be accepted depending on the circumstances.
• Primary services during pregnancy include:
  • Non-Invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) – A private test, with the cost covering the test itself. The consultation for NIPS is generally covered under provincial health insurance, as described in our general consultation FAQ.
  • Medical Genetics consultation for fetal anomalies or maternal genetic conditions- Consultations are provided when either the mother or the fetus may be affected by a genetic or metabolic condition (e.g., maternal homocystinuria or fetal anomalies such as absence of a limb on ultrasound). The consultation is covered under provincial insurance, but some tests, such as whole genome sequencing (WGS) on amniocentesis samples, may incur a private cost. Other tests, such as fetal karyotyping, are typically publicly funded and can be arranged through the clinic.
  • Invasive prenatal testing-When indicated, procedures such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis may be arranged for pregnancies at risk of a metabolic or genetic condition.
  • Pre-pregnancy genetic screening- Screening for specific conditions may be offered to couples planning a pregnancy. Some tests, like thalassemia screening, may be publicly funded if criteria are met. WGS carrier screening for couples is offered as a private test.

All testing and consultation plans are tailored to individual circumstances and discussed in detail with the patient or couple during the consultation. 

Registered nurses, genetic counsellors, and pharmacists are licensed professionals, but their services are not covered by public health insurance and are billed directly to the patient.

If one of these professionals participates in your initial consultation, they may assist with arranging bloodwork or imaging at no additional cost. Any additional services, such as responding to emails, telephone questions, or providing medical advice outside the consultation, will be billed directly to the patient.

• For patients with active Alberta Health Care coverage, both in-person and Telehealth appointments are covered and there is no charge.
• Patients from other provinces (with the exception of Quebec):
  • In-person appointments are usually covered by their provincial health insurance.
  • Telehealth appointments may be billed directly due to licensing rules.
• Patients without provincial coverage are billed directly. You can request an estimate before your appointment, and reimbursement may be sought through private insurance if applicable.

M.A.G.I.C. Clinic sees patients with rare metabolic or genetic conditions, including both children and adults. Typical patients include:

• Individuals with a known genetic or metabolic diagnosis that falls within our scope of care.
• Patients with undiagnosed conditions where a genetic or metabolic cause is suspected, such as developmental delay, neurological disorders, muscle or heart conditions, kidney or bone diseases, and others.
• Patients who require whole genome sequencing (WGS) for diagnosis, or interpretation of previously completed genomic tests from selected certified laboratories.
• Patients being evaluated for mitochondrial diseases, including cases where advanced genomic testing or specialized testing is needed.
• Those seeking pharmacogenomic testing.
• Those interested in participating in clinical trials.

All testing and consultations are medically guided and individualized. We do not perform testing that is not clinically indicated, and patients are informed of any private costs in advance.

Genetic testing at M.A.G.I.C. Clinic depends on the question we are trying to answer and the patient’s needs. Some tests are available through public programs, while others are private. Our approach is to use the most comprehensive testing option first, which is whole genome sequencing (WGS), when clinically appropriate. We do not routinely follow a stepwise approach that begins with multiple publicly funded tests if those tests are unlikely to provide meaningful diagnostic information. Patients who prefer a different testing pathway are encouraged to discuss options with their referring provider.

Types of testing we may use include:

• Chromosomal Microarray (CMA) – Detects large changes in chromosomes. Often used first for major developmental delays or congenital anomalies. Usually ordered by your doctor before referral and covered publicly if criteria are met.
• Copy number variant (CNV) or Imprinting Conditions- Specialized tests for conditions like Fragile X or Prader-Willi, ordered when the clinical picture suggests a specific disorder.
• Gene Panels- Targeted tests that look at the specific set of genes related to a disease (e.g., 50 genes out of 20,000). Panels can be done in Alberta or sent out-of-province. Gene panels are not comprehensive and are only ordered when there is a strong suspicion for a particular gene.
• Genomic Testing- Includes Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
  • WES (Whole Exome Sequencing)- Looks at the coding regions of genes (exons). It detects many genetic diseases but is less comprehensive than WGS. We no longer order WES as a general screen for genetic diseases. While there is a provincial program to do WES, we recommend that you see a geneticist who will order WES if you want to use this approach.
  • WGS (Whole Genome Sequencing)- Sequences nearly all DNA, including coding and non-coding regions, and provides the highest chance of finding a diagnosis. While WGS is a private test, this is the preferred method to screen for an undiagnosed disease at M.A.G.I.C. Clinic.

Important Notes:

• Testing is chosen based on what is most likely to provide a diagnosis, not simply because a test is available.
• Interpretation of results is critical, our focus is on providing a diagnosis and guiding next steps, not just generating reports.
• Some publicly funded tests require additional application processes to determine eligibility. This work is not separately remunerated.
• Out-of-province patients may have limited coverage for public tests, and private testing may be required.

For more information on WES vs WGS, see this article from scienceinsights.org.

• Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a comprehensive genetic test that may be considered when there is a concern for a rare metabolic or genetic condition and more targeted testing is unlikely to provide an answer.
• WGS analyzes nearly all of a person’s DNA, including both coding and non-coding regions. It may be used in selected situations such as epilepsy, unexplained developmental differences, congenital heart conditions, cardiomyopathies, long QT syndromes, or structural brain abnormalities.
• WGS is not required for most patients and currently applies to less than 10% of referrals. While WGS can increase the chance of finding a diagnosis in certain situations, many patients will still have no identifiable genetic condition, and a negative result does not rule out non-genetic causes.
• Our role is to interpret results and advise whether a genetic diagnosis can be identified and what next steps, if any, may be appropriate.
• Our goal is to reduce the time it takes to make a diagnosis and the most common approach, based on the best available evidence, one may expect is in the following diagram:

M.A.G.I.C. Clinic no longer accepts new referrals for hypermobility or related conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).

Patients seeking assessment of these concerns may wish to discuss available options with their primary care provider. One option is Hypermobility Canada, a clinic that provides hypermobility-related assessments for pediatric and adult patients. More information is available at Hypermobility Canada.

Most referrals to M.A.G.I.C. Clinic are for consultation and diagnostic opinion, rather than ongoing care. If a diagnosis is made and management falls within our scope of practice, follow-up care and treatment options may be discussed as part of your consultation.

M.A.G.I.C. Clinic accepts referrals related to hereditary cancer, including cases where a patient has had certain types of cancer or has a concerning family history.

• The primary service provided is a genetic consultation, which may include genetic counselling as a key part of the visit. Decisions about genetic testing depend on the individual situation and provincial coverage criteria.
• For patients seen in Alberta, publicly funded genetic testing may be available if provincial eligibility requirements are met. When public testing is unlikely to be covered, private testing may be discussed. Depending on the information provided at referral, an appointment may be offered in Calgary with the understanding that private testing could be recommended, or the referral may be redirected to an appropriate pathway in the patient’s home province.
• If a family member has already undergone genetic testing, a copy of the laboratory report and a complete family history (using a tool we provide) are required before an appointment can be scheduled.

Absence of heterozygosity (AOH) means that certain regions of the child’s genes are identical, rather than having one set from each parent. In some cases, this can contribute to a medical or developmental condition, and autism is a common reason for referral in children with AOH findings.

• Determining whether specific genes within these regions explain a diagnosis is complex and typically requires techniques not available through publicly funded testing. At M.A.G.I.C. Clinic, we may use whole genome sequencing (WGS) to analyze the regions of AOH and interpret whether a genetic cause can be identified.
• Because this analysis requires private testing, all referring providers and parents/caregivers must understand that there is a cost associated before scheduling an appointment. We require documentation confirming this understanding to ensure families are informed prior to booking.

M.A.G.I.C. Clinic focuses on identifying genetic causes of autism or related neurodevelopmental disorders. We do not diagnose autism itself; that should be done by a qualified specialist such as a neurodevelopmental pediatrician or psychologist.

Our approach typically begins with reviewing any prior genetic tests (for example, chromosomal microarray or Fragile X testing) ordered by the referring healthcare provider. If the results are abnormal, unexplained, or incomplete, we may use whole genome sequencing (WGS) to provide a comprehensive analysis. WGS allows us to examine all coding and non-coding regions of DNA, giving the best chance of identifying a genetic cause when prior tests are inconclusive.

• We do not order whole exome sequencing (WES) or gene panels as a general screen, and we only work with laboratories that provide raw sequencing data suitable for diagnostic interpretation. Testing is performed only when it aligns with the consultation goal of identifying a potential genetic cause.
• For families considering future pregnancies, identifying a genetic cause can help estimate recurrence risk. Prenatal testing is only possible if genetic diagnosis has been established. Referrals are accepted only when the referring healthcare provider has discussed this context with the patient or family.
• We do not order folate receptor antibody testing or prescribe folinic acid for autism, as current scientific evidence does not support this approach.
• Referrals may be declined if the goal of the referral does not align with our scope of practice or if this has not been clearly communicated to patients or caregivers.

• Consultations during pregnancy are treated as a priority, and self-referrals may be accepted depending on the circumstances.
• Primary services during pregnancy include:
  • • Non-Invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) – A private test, with the cost covering the test itself. The consultation for NIPS is generally covered under provincial health insurance, as described in our general consultation FAQ.
    • Medical Genetics consultation for fetal anomalies or maternal genetic conditions- Consultations are provided when either the mother or the fetus may be affected by a genetic or metabolic condition (e.g., maternal homocystinuria or fetal anomalies such as absence of a limb on ultrasound). The consultation is covered under provincial insurance, but some tests, such as whole genome sequencing (WGS) on amniocentesis samples, may incur a private cost. Other tests, such as fetal karyotyping, are typically publicly funded and can be arranged through the clinic.
    • Invasive prenatal testing-When indicated, procedures such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis may be arranged for pregnancies at risk of a metabolic or genetic condition.
    • Pre-pregnancy genetic screening- Screening for specific conditions may be offered to couples planning a pregnancy. Some tests, like thalassemia screening, may be publicly funded if criteria are met. WGS carrier screening for couples is offered as a private test.

All testing and consultation plans are tailored to individual circumstances and discussed in detail with the patient or couple during the consultation.

Registered nurses, genetic counsellors, and pharmacists are licensed professionals, but their services are not covered by public health insurance and are billed directly to the patient.

If one of these professionals participates in your initial consultation, they may assist with arranging bloodwork or imaging at no additional cost. Any additional services, such as responding to emails, telephone questions, or providing medical advice outside the consultation, will be billed directly to the patient.