Reproductive carrier
screening
Planning on having a child? We've partnered with Eugene Labs1 to offer free shipping in Australia on their Core and Comprehensive Carrier Reproductive Screening tests.
These at-home tests help identify your risk of passing on common genetic conditions, enabling you to make informed choices about family planning.
The Core Carrier Screening is covered under Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). If you meet the eligibility criteria, you won't have to pay anything.2
If you're considering the Comprehensive Carrier Screening test, Bupa members can get a limited time discount.
What the test
looks for
Carrier screening helps identify if you are at increased risk of having a child with a serious inherited genetic condition. Eugene offers two types of carrier screening, depending on the level of information you need:
- Core Carrier Screening, which is covered by Medicare for eligible people, looks at genetic variations that cause 3 of the most common inherited genetic conditions:
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and;
- Fragile X Syndrome.
- Comprehensive Carrier Screening includes everything in Core, plus screening for over 780 conditions, including:
- Thalassaemia
- Tay-Sachs disease, and;
- many more.
You can run tests either pre-conception, or in early pregnancy.3 Reproductive carrier screening is optional, and helps you make informed decisions if you're planning on having a child.
What you get with your test
Free shipping
All tests include free shipping. When you receive your test, simply return it using the pre-paid shipping label.
4 week turnaround
No long waiting periods. Get results within four weeks of your sample being received.
Be quick and save
Considering the Comprehensive Carrier Screening? Act fast - the first 400 Bupa members will get a $50 discount.
How it works
- Use the link on this page to order a reproductive carrier screening test through Eugene.
- If you choose the Core Carrier Screening test, Eugene will check if you're covered under the MBS when you order.
- When your kit arrives, follow the instructions to collect a saliva sample. You'll have up to 6 months to return your test.
- Use the pre-paid return label to send your kit back to Eugene.
- When you receive your results, you can make an appointment with one of Eugene's genetic counsellors if you have questions about your report. With your consent, Eugene can also send your results to your regular GP or specialist.
Is this test right
for you?
The journey to having a baby can be exciting, but could also feel stressful. Carrier screening tests are a valuable tool for couples to identify if you or your partner are carriers for genetic conditions that may be passed onto your child. Eugene's Core Carrier Screening can help detect your risk of passing on one of the 3 most commonly inherited genetic diseases in Australia.
- The Core Carrier Screening is free for eligible Medicare members, however, the screening is limited to three main conditions, while the Comprehensive Carrier Screening looks at over 780 hereditary conditions and provides a much clearer picture of your risks.
- What is a carrier? Most people don't know they are carriers, often because they are healthy and have no family history of the condition. Being a carrier just means you have one faulty copy and one working copy of a gene. Passing on a recessive genetic condition to your child is only a risk if you and your reproductive partner are both carriers for the same condition.
- Eugene's Core Carrier Screening starts with the female. If results show that person's a carrier, Eugene will send another kit for the other biological parent to see if they're also a carrier, free of charge. For Comprehensive Carrier Screening, it's usually advised that both partners are tested.
Medicare
eligibility
Eligibility rules change from time to time, but to qualify for the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebate it's likely you'll need to meet these criteria4, 5.
- Valid & current Medicare number
- Chromosomally female
- Pregnant, or planning a pregnancy
- Australian citizen or permanent resident
- No previous benefit for this test
- A registered medical practitioner decides if the test is right for you
Privacy and
health insurance
Your genetic information is private. Details of any genetic tests won't be shared with any other part of Bupa, and won't impact your health insurance premiums.
Blua only collects de-identified information from these services, which can't be linked back to you.
Your genes. Your data.
The unique makeup of your body is sensitive information, and Blua takes privacy seriously. When partnering with genomic service providers, it's important to us that they prioritise privacy and data security too.
Eugene doesn't share your data, other than with their partner labs and your care team if you nominated a doctor during your online onboarding or during your results consult. Eugene doesn't store samples. Blua only receives aggregated, de-identified data from Eugene.
Our other services
Preventive health
Know your genetic risks of developing certain diseases down the track, so you can take the right actions for your health.
Personalised medicine
Discover how your genes might make certain medicines more or less effective.
- Services are provided by Eugene Labs, our 3rd party provider. Eugene uses VCGS as their preferred pathology partner.
- Offer expires 31 December 2025
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Genomics in general practice: Reproductive carrier screening, accessed 28 April 2025
- Australian Government: Dept of Health and Aged Care, Reproductive carrier testing for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and fragile X syndrome, accessed 8 May 2025
- Medicare Benefits Schedule Online, Medicare Benefits Schedule – Note GN.3.9, accessed 8 May 2025