For genetic counsellors, each day is different. They work with specialist health professionals to order genetic tests, interpret clinical genetic reports and help individuals, couples and families understand their genetic make-up.
At the heart everything they do is their client and their role as a translator. Genetic counsellors work between doctors and the families to simplify complex medical information into meaningful messages.
Reproductive carrier screening for fragile X syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy and cystic fibrosis is now a step closer to be listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS) assessed the motivations and experiences of over 200 women who had NIPT in Victoria. The study identified that detecting chromosome conditions and seeking reassurance as the most common reasons women wanted to use NIPT. The study also highlighted the importance of making informed decisions about prenatal screening and the results obtained.
Learn more about NIPT and read the study’s insights in full below.
A collaborative study, under the auspices of Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, published this week has found that genomic testing for patients with suspected genetic kidney disease leads to more definitive diagnosis and has a substantial, quantifiable impact on care.
Lead authors Dr Kushani Jayasinghe and A/Prof Catherine Quinlan investigated the impact of genomic testing for patients with suspected genetic kidney disease over a two-year period (2017-2019).
Doctors and scientists at Victorian Clinical Genetic Services (VCGS) are working towards better carrier screening and rapid genomic testing programs, to give Australian families tools to understand the cause of an unknown condition or make informed choices when planning a family.
Reproductive carrier screening
Non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS or NIPT) using cell-free DNA has been widely adopted into clinical practice and is currently used to identify pregnancies that have an increased chance of chromosome conditions such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome.
Genome-wide NIPS is an advanced form of NIPS that is used to screen all 23 pairs of chromosomes. This test can identify whole extra or missing chromosomes, as well as partial deletions or duplications of chromosomes.
An Australian Genomics Health Alliance study led by Associate Professor Zornitza Stark (Consultant Clinical Geneticist) & Dr Sebastian Lunke (Head of Genetics & Genomics) has been published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study highlights how ultra-rapid genomic testing can transform the diagnosis and treatment of children in intensive care.
Over $33 million has been provided for genomics research to support cancer and children’s diseases. The grants are the first from the new government funded Genomics Health Futures Mission.
17 projects across Australia have received funding, including two being run by MCRI and VCGS.
Read government Media Release
Today (May 1st, 2020) marks the introduction of new Medicare item numbers for genomic testing.
This funding will support testing to help diagnose children with a suspected complex genetic condition. It allows testing for many families who would otherwise be unable to access such services.
New Medicare item numbers are available for:
Genetic carrier screening gives individuals and couples information about their chance of having a child with an inherited genetic condition, such as cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis mainly affects the lungs and is one of the most common inherited conditions in the general population.