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 Genetic Services Section
What are genetic services?
Genetic services include evaluation, diagnosis,
follow-up, and treatment for
inherited disorders and birth defects. They can include a review of
family and medical history, physical examination, counseling,
education, laboratory testing, and referral for appropriate
management. Services provide individuals and families with
information about inherited disorders, how genetic conditions are
passed on in families, and the risks that a condition will affect
other family members.
Genetic services are provided by a diverse range of health
professionals trained in genetics, including genetic counselors,
medical geneticists, nurses, physicians, and laboratory technicians.
To find out where you can receive these services go to our
Genetic Services page.
Who should seek genetic
services?
Getting A Genetic
Consultation - How it can Benefit You or Your Family
Individuals or families who are concerned
about a genetic condition may benefit from genetic services. Genetic services are often grouped by age: preconception/prenatal, pediatric, and adult.
Preconception and prenatal genetic
services serve couples that are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant.
Common reasons for a preconception/prenatal genetics visit may
include:
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Mother
will be 35 years of age or older at delivery
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Pregnancies
with abnormal results from a screening test or ultrasound
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Couples
with a family history of a genetic condition
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Couples
who have had a child with a genetic condition or birth defect
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Risks
related to a mother’s illness or infection
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Risks
related to exposure to certain medicines or chemicals
Common
reasons for seeking pediatric or adult genetic services may include:
presence of a known or suspected genetic disorder, chromosomal
abnormality, birth defect, mental retardation, or developmental delay,
or a family history of any of these.
Contact
a Regional Genetics Clinic to determine whether a genetics referral is
appropriate.
Priorities
The Genetic Services Section, with input from the
Washington State Genetics Advisory Committee, has made the following areas
a priority:
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Coordination and Coverage of Services
People with a genetic condition need coordination of
medical, social, and educational services. Medical genetic
services are not well understood and are often poorly reimbursed by
insurance companies and other third party payers.
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Access to Quality Services
There are few formal mechanisms in place to assess the quality of
clinical and laboratory genetic services.
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Privacy & Confidentiality of Genetic Information
Genetic advances have resulted in increased concern for the privacy and
confidentiality of genetic information, as well as the potential for
genetic discrimination.
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Raising Awareness of Genetic Issues
Rapid advancements in the field of genetics have resulted in the need
for genetic education among a variety of people.
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