Antenatal carrier screening for cystic fibrosis

Antenatal carrier screening for cystic fibrosis Genetic technology has made it possible to detect carriers of cystic fibrosis (CF), before the birth of an affected child. The paper looks at the “human” side of screening, by comparing two approaches to offering CF carrier screening in a hospital antenatal clinic. In stepwise screening, women are offered a test first. If a carrier
is found, her partner can be tested after counselling. With couple screening, samples are obtained from both partners and positive results are only given if both are carriers.