FAQ's
- Why should I offer cystic fibrosis carrier screening to anyone other than Caucasians or Ashkenazi Jewish individuals?
- Why should I offer cystic fibrosis carrier screening to preconception patients?
- In 2007, the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) recommended cystic fibrosis testing for all newborns. Is carrier screening of parents still necessary?
Why should I offer cystic fibrosis carrier screening to anyone other than Caucasians or Ashkenazi Jewish individuals?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recognized in committee opinion #325 that it is becoming increasingly difficult to assign one ethnic or racial background to a patient. Because of this, the committee opinion states that it is reasonable to offer carrier screening to all pregnant patients. Approximately two thirds of obstetricians offer cystic fibrosis carrier screening to all pregnant patients instead of using selective criteria.1
Why should I offer cystic fibrosis carrier screening to preconception patients?
ACOG addresses this point specifically in their committee opinion. It states “Preconception carrier screening allows carrier couples to consider the fullest range of reproductive options… Knowledge of the risk of having an affected child may influence a carrier couple’s decision to conceive, use donor gametes, or consider preimplantation or prenatal genetic testing.”1
In 2007, the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) recommended cystic fibrosis testing for all newborns. Is carrier screening of parents still necessary?
ACOG and ACMG revisited carrier screening in 2007 and reaffirmed their 2005 opinion with no changes. Carrier and newborn screening work in tandem to ensure the highest rate of detection possible.1
1Adapted from ACOG Committee Opinion #325 – Update on Carrier Screening for Cystic Fibrosis, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2005; 1465 – 8.