Family testing for Wilson’s disease

Who should get tested for Wilson’s disease?

When someone has Wilson’s disease, their close family should have tests. This includes blood relations such as:

• Brothers and sisters
• Children

Each brother or sister has a 1 in 4 chance of also having Wilson’s disease.

In some cases, doctors will also ask to test a child’s cousins.

Find out more about how Wilson’s disease is passed on in families

Back to top

How are family members tested for Wilson’s disease?

The medical team will:
• ask questions to check for symptoms, even if they are very mild
• do blood and urine copper tests
• do blood tests to check on the liver

When tests suggest someone may have Wilson’s disease, doctors may do a genetic test. This looks for the gene change seen in the family member with Wilson’s disease.

Find out more about tests for Wilson’s disease:

• in adults
• in children

Back to top

What happens if family testing shows Wilson’s disease?

If family testing finds that someone has Wilson’s disease, they will have tests, treatment and regular checkups.

People diagnosed this way may have no symptoms. They will have more tests to check for any early signs of damage in their liver or brain.

If there is a build-up of copper, they should start treatment to get rid of it.

If there is not much build-up yet, then they can have medicines such as zinc. The medicines aim to reduce how much copper someone gets from their food. And prevent copper build up.

Everyone with Wilson’s disease should have regular monitoring. Even if they have no symptoms.

Back to top

Next:

Treatment

Everyone’s experience of Wilson’s disease will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.

Our information aims to be clear, up-to-date, and useful. We work with people living with liver disease and clinicians to make our information.

• How we make our information 

Share your thoughts on this information

If you have any feedback or would like a full list of references, you can also let us know by emailing patient-info@britishlivertrust.org.uk.

Clinical reviewer: Dr William Griffiths, consultant hepatologist, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS foundation trust.

Publication date: December 2025

Next review: December 2028