Screening for Genetic Diseases
According to Merck.com, screening for genetic diseases can determine a couple's risk for having a child with a genetic disorder. Such screening usually takes place before a child is born, but newborns are also tested.
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Considerations
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If both parents have a genetic disease, come from high-risk ethnic groups, or have family members with genetic disorders, they would benefit the most from genetic screening, reports Merck.com.
Family History Assesment
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To determine a couple's risk, a doctor will ask about family medical history, miscarriages and past births, intermarriages among relatives and ethnic background.
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Prenatal Testing
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Prenatal diagnostic testing uses blood tests and ultrasounds to determine abnormalities in the fetus, according to Merck.com. Such testing does come with risks to the mother and fetus, however.
Newborn Screening
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Newborn genetic screening has been developed to identify and treat babies as soon after birth as possible. Individual states determine which diseases to automatically screen for at birth, charging $15 to $60 per baby, says the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah.
Benefits
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Testing lets a high-risk couple make an informed decision about having a child. If a newborn is tested and found to have a genetic disorder, treatment can be started sooner, perhaps with a better long-term outcome.
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