Objective To provide an ethical framework for clinicians and companies providing non-invasive prenatal testing using cell-free fetal DNA or whole fetal cells. Method In collaboration with an NIH-supported research ethics consultation committee, together with feedback from an inter-disciplinary group of clinicians, members of industry, legal experts and genetic counselors we developed a set of best practices for the provision of non-invasive prenatal genetic testing. Results Principal recommendations include the amendment of current informed consent procedures to include attention to the non-invasive nature of new testing and the potential for a broader range of results earlier in the pregnancy. We strongly recommend that tests should only be provided through licensed medical providers and not direct-to-consumer. Conclusion Prenatal tests, including new methods using cell-free fetal DNA, are not currently regulated by government agencies and limited professional guidance is available. In the absence of regulation, companies and clinicians should cooperate to adopt responsible best ethical practices in the provision of these tests.
Genetic testing for common conditions will be used increasingly in primary care, but resources for patient counseling are decreasing. It is also necessary that primary care practitioners be better equipped to do basic genetic counseling. Therefore, the quality of informational materials for practitioners and patients is important. It was unknown how often key elements recommended by policy groups were actually included in such material. It was our aim to determine the content of printed informational material for practitioners and patients on genetic testing. We performed (1) a telephone survey of organizations in the United States that developed genetic tests or services and (2) a content analysis of pamphlets obtained from these organizations to determine the presence of 10 critical elements necessary to evaluate the appropriateness and performance of the tests. Almost 95% (169/178) of organizations responded to our survey; 131/169 (78%) reported using informational materials. We analyzed 115 pamphlets collected from 125/131 (95%) organizations. Elements least frequently included in the pamphlets were risks and benefits, patient rights, and intended use or purpose of the test. Most frequently included were descriptions of the conditions detected by the test, and the appropriate patients for testing. Nearly one half of the pamphlets included some statement about the accuracy of the test, but most of these did not specify whether their statements referred to sensitivity, specificity, or predictive value. Overall, pamphlets tended to contain information that would aid in determining a patient's eligibility for a genetic test, but did not contain sufficient information about the tests themselves. Our results suggest that several critical elements need to be added to enhance informed choices by patients and physicians.
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