Call for cystic fibrosis carrier testing to be offered to all couples considering pregnancy
Cystic fibrosis carrier testing should be offered to all couples considering pregnancy and to women in early pregnancy and their partners, according to the authors of a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Ms Louise Christie, Clinical Nurse Consultant and Associate Genetic Counsellor at Hunter Genetics, and her co-authors established an after-hours clinic in Newcastle, NSW, for the discussion of issues related to prenatal testing with couples considering pregnancy and with women in early pregnancy and their partners.
Couples were offered cystic fibrosis carrier testing by extracting DNA from a mouthwash samples. All 1000 individuals who were offered testing accepted.
Information on carrier status led four couples deemed to be at high risk of having a child with cystic fibrosis to change their reproductive decisions to avoid having a child with cystic fibrosis.
“Cystic fibrosis carrier testing for couples using an expanded one-step model will detect about 80 per cent of high-risk couples and enables various reproductive choices,” Ms Christie said.
“Cystic fibrosis is a common and severe disease that places considerable emotional and financial burden on affected individuals, their families and health services.
“We believe that all couples considering pregnancy, as well as women in early pregnancy and their partners, should be offered cystic fibrosis carrier testing to enable them to make informed reproductive decisions.”
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.
CONTACT:
Ms Louise Christie 0403 680 575 / 02 4969 8717