Outcomes of a cystic fibrosis carrier testing clinic for couples

Med J Aust. 2009 Nov 2;191(9):499-501. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02913.x.

Abstract

Objective: To review the outcomes of offering carrier testing for cystic fibrosis (CF) to couples considering pregnancy, and to women in early pregnancy and their partners.

Methods: An after-hours clinic was established in Newcastle for discussion of issues related to prenatal testing. Couples were offered CF carrier testing by extracting DNA from a mouthwash sample. An expanded one-step model was used with both partners being tested initially for the p.F508del cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) mutation. If one partner was a p.F508del carrier, the other partner was tested for an additional 28 CFTR mutations.

Results: Of 1000 individuals who were offered CF carrier testing, none declined. No re-collections of mouthwash samples were required, and results were available within 14 days. There were 730 individuals who had no family history of CF (73%); 27 were carriers (4%; 95% CI, 2.4%-5.3%), and there were two high-risk couples where both partners were carriers of p.F508del. There were 270 individuals who had an affected family member with CF or a child identified as a CF carrier through newborn screening; 126 were carriers (46%; 95% CI, 40.6%-52.8%), and there were two high-risk couples - one couple where both partners were carriers of p.F508del, and another couple where the woman was homozygous for p.F508del and the man was a p.F508del carrier. The information on carrier status led the four high-risk couples to change their reproductive decisions to avoid having a child with CF.

Conclusion: CF carrier testing for couples using an expanded one-step model will detect about 80% of high-risk couples and enables various reproductive choices. We believe that all couples considering pregnancy, and women in early pregnancy and their partners, should be offered CF carrier testing.

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care Facilities*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / diagnosis
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Female
  • Genetic Carrier Screening*
  • Genetic Counseling
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Preconception Care / methods*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods*

Substances

  • CFTR protein, human
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator