Did you know that 1 in 4 Ashkenazi Jews carries at least one
"Jewish" genetic disorder? That’s why carrier screening is an important part of
family planning for Jewish and interfaith couples. The Norton & Elaine
Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics provides an affordable and accessible
screening program for:
- People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (at least one
Jewish parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent)
- Sephardic Jews and their partners, who may
consider expanded genetic screening
- Non-Jewish partners, since none of the disorders
are exclusive to the Jewish population
Now, screening guidelines are expanding beyond ethnicity.
Because many people are of mixed or unknown ancestry, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends carrier screening for all women who are
pregnant or considering pregnancy.
According to the newly released ACOG guidelines, all women
should be screened for spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, and certain inherited
blood disorders. Women with unexplained ovarian insufficiency and/or family
history of fragile X-related disorders should also be screened for fragile X
syndrome. Our carrier screening panel meets – and exceeds – the ACOG guidelines. It tests for
the conditions recommended by the ACOG, as well as additional panethnic and
Jewish genetic disorders. Our comprehensive program is designed to help Jewish
and interfaith couples identify their genetic risks so they can plan for a
healthy future. Learn more about the conditions on our panel.
Ideally, screening should take place prior to pregnancy.
Couples who know their carrier status beforehand have the most options, and
carrier couples build healthy families every day!
If you are a carrier, the ACOG suggests informing other
family members of the genetic risk, as well as the availability of carrier
screening.
Read the full ACOG Committee Opinion Summary: