Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Panel (AJGP): Who Should Be Tested
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Who Should Be Tested?
Genetic tests can be done for anyone who wants to see whether he or she may be carriers of certain diseases. The Ashkenazi Jewish genetic panel (AJGP) shows the chance of having a child with a disease that is more common among people of Eastern European Jewish heritage. Anyone who is interested in knowing his or her carrier status can ask for the test, but a doctor must order it.
Genetic test results often have ethical, religious, or legal concerns. You should ask to have genetic counseling before making a decision about testing. Genetic counselors are trained to explain the test and its results clearly. A genetic counselor can help you make well-informed decisions.
An AJGP may be recommended for people of Eastern European Jewish heritage, especially:
- Adults with a positive family history of a disease that is on the test panel.
- Partners of people with diseases on the test panel. For example, if one partner has cystic fibrosis (CF) and the other partner has the CF gene, a child will have a 50% chance of having CF.
- Couples planning to have children.
- Pregnant women (and their partners) who seek prenatal care, whether they have a history of genetic diseases or not.
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| Last updated: | May 29, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine, Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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