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Gene test prior to a potential pregnancy

Question
Hello.

I am a CF patient. My wife is healthy. We are thinking thoroughly about having a child. Can my wife get tested prior to the pregnancy to see if she carries the CF gene? Where are such tests offered, who pays for it (my wife has statutory health insurance, I am with private insurance). How much does it cost? Thanks for your answer!!
Answer
Hello dear questioner,

of course your wife can get tested for the most common CF genes in Europe; this could be done in the context of a human-genetic examination. At the moment, I do not know how much this costs. It would be best to inquire directly with your wife’s health insurance company about this particular question to see whether they will cover the costs. It will make more sense, however, to do a genetic test of the amniotic fluid or the corionic tissue during the pregnancy. At least you should be given this option. You should be sure, however, about whether a CF diagnosis in the unborn child would have consequences for you: would you consider a termination of the pregnancy then? If not, you could spare yourselves the prenatal diagnostics including all the risks involved.

Another possibility is the genetic investigation of the polar body of the embryo; which is done in the 2-nucleus stadium, that means before the fusion of the nuclei; therefore it is legal in Germany, for example ([the question comes from Germany]).

It would make most sense to do the genetic test of your wife at a genetic counselling center, which can be found in all bigger cities. For German citizens please see a list of all centers on the homepage of the German Society for Human Genetics: www.gfhev.de.

I hope to have answered your questions to your satisfaction.

Kind regards
Dr. Stücker
29.12.2009