title: Cystic fibrosis prenatal screening in genetic counseling practice: recommendations of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
abstract: For over a decade, prenatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) has been considered a model for the integration of genetic testing into routine medical practice. Data from pilot studies and public policy discourse have led to recommendations by some professional organizations that CF screening should be offered or made available to pregnant women and their partners, and to couples planning a pregnancy. It is crucial that genetic counselors gain thorough understanding of the complexities of CF and the implications of positive test results, so that they may serve as a reliable, educated referral base and resource for health care providers and their patients. While not all pregnant women will be referred for genetic counseling prior to CF carrier testing, genetic counselors often will be asked to counsel clients after they have a positive test result, or who are found to be at increased risk. Genetic counselors can play an important role in providing accurate and current information as well as support for patients' informed decisions. These recommendations were created by a multicenter working group of genetic counselors with expertise in CF and are based on personal clinical experience, review of pertinent English language medical articles, and reports of expert committees. The recommendations should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of management, nor does the use of such recommendations guarantee a particular outcome. These recommendations do not displace a health care provider's professional judgment based on the clinical circumstances of a particular client.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers, New York, New York, USA. eschwind@svcmcny.org
authors.forename: Elinor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Langfelder-Schwind
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kloza
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sugarman
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pettersen
authors.forename: Trisha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Redman
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005823:Genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010641:Phenotype; D011071:Poly T / Q000235:genetics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012955:Societies, Medical
chemical_list: C505032:CFTR protein, human; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D011071:Poly T