The term "Genetic carrier", by definition, applies only to recessive conditions.

The exception to this may be latent post-puberty genetic carriers of hereditary coproporphyria.

It is recommended that patients with a history of acute porphyria, and even genetic carriers, wear an alert bracelet or other identification at all times.

Females are not affected by the condition, however due to linkage of heredity with the X chromosome, they are thought to be genetic carriers.

Their sisters, Erin, 8, and Megan, 5, are genetic carriers, like their mother, and the disorder might affect them later in life.

Prospective parents can be tested for being genetic carriers, or their children might be tested for actually being affected by a disease.

Sons of affected men will not have the mutation, while all of their daughters will be genetic carriers of the mutation.

Genetic carrier testing can be used to tell if a person carries one or more mutations of the CF gene and how many copies of each mutation.

A genetic carrier (or just carrier), is a person or other organism that has inherited a genetic trait or mutation, but who does not display that trait or show symptoms of the disease.

Due to its autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance, affected individuals (persons possessing a homozygous recessive genotype) need to undergo genetic counselling to identify risk of family members who might be heterozygous genetic carriers.

If it is shown that the brothers and sisters of the patient have the disease, then there is a strong chance that the disease is genetic and that the patient will also be a genetic carrier.

Both active and latent genetic carriers of acute hepatic porphyrias are at risk for this cancer, although latent genetic carriers have developed the cancer at a later age than those with classic symptoms.

The bulk (up to 90%) of the genetic carriers of the more common, dominantly inherited acute hepatic porphyrias (acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria, variegate porphyria) have been noted in DNA tests to be latent for classic symptoms and may require DNA or enzyme testing.