Is Prenatal Genetic Testing Worth the Risk?

     Genetic tests in utero have become increasingly popular as technology has advanced, the invasive practices give parents a look into the health and well-being of their child, and assist couples with their right to choose. If the fetus is healthy and the tests detect no abnormalities, the mother could still potentially have a miss-carriage shortly after the procedure. This is the dilemma many parents have to face when it comes to genetic testing in utero. 

    When a parent decides that it may be useful to have their unborn child tested for a genetic disease, they must consider a handful of things. First, the chance that the test is performed incorrectly or there is a complication may lead to a decrease in quality of life for the unborn fetus, or perhaps a misscariage. There are many potential risks of a test that end in an impairment of the fetus. Every year, 1 in 200 women experience a miscarriage from a genetic screening test. Some women will experience bleeding or cramping afterwards, as well (Dugo 2014). Although the risk of a miscariage is very small, it is still something that must be assessed when thinking of screening a fetus. Another issue with screening is the possibility of a false positive or negative. This issue opens a whole new set of problems into the decision after the screening. A study in risks of cell-free fetal DNA testing found that 6 cases were reported as false positives. Another issue is false negatives that can also present after a screening. The idea of false negatives and positives are hard to discuss because some parents may feel overwhelmed considering the options after results; many parents may feel like a false result is misleading and may feel guilty if they find out that it was an error. 

Issues surrounding costs, insurance, and the right to choose also play into decisions outside of the physiological risks of an invasive genetic screening. As genetic testing becomes more accessible throughout the country, the costs are high for many people and insurance can cover many of these tests if the mother is at high risk. A more complex subject regarding genetic testing is the parents’ right to choose after the tests have been completed. Some people may choose to abort an unborn child whether it is a fatal genetic disorder or not. This is incredibly controversial in the area of genetic testing because if the parent wasn't aware of the condition, would the outcome be the same?

Genetic testing and screening is another incredible advancement in medicine that has been proven useful to many high-risk parents. As the advancements continue, we cannot allow the glamour of the science to outshine the many risks that are associated with genetic testing.

Dugo, N., Padula, F., Mobili, L., Brizzi, C., D'Emidio, L., Cignini, P., Mesoraca, A., Bizzoco, D., Cima, A., & Giorlandino, C. (2014). Six consecutive false positive cases from cell-free fetal DNA testing in a single referring centre. Journal of prenatal medicine, 8(1-2), 31–35.