title: Women's experiences receiving abnormal prenatal chromosomal microarray testing results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genomic microarrays can detect copy-number variants not detectable by conventional cytogenetics. This technology is diffusing rapidly into prenatal settings even though the clinical implications of many copy-number variants are currently unknown. We conducted a qualitative pilot study to explore the experiences of women receiving abnormal results from prenatal microarray testing performed in a research setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were a subset of women participating in a multicenter prospective study "Prenatal Cytogenetic Diagnosis by Array-based Copy Number Analysis." Telephone interviews were conducted with 23 women receiving abnormal prenatal microarray results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that five key elements dominated the experiences of women who had received abnormal prenatal microarray results: an offer too good to pass up, blindsided by the results, uncertainty and unquantifiable risks, need for support, and toxic knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As prenatal microarray testing is increasingly used, uncertain findings will be common, resulting in greater need for careful pre- and posttest counseling, and more education of and resources for providers so they can adequately support the women who are undergoing testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Barbara.bernhardt@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soucier
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Melissa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: Laird
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wapner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure