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What role do ARUP’s genetic counselors play in genetic testing?
Test Order Review
GCs review select test orders for appropriateness and cost effectiveness to reduce testing inefficiencies and improve patient care.
Example: If you have requested cystic fibrosis (CF) testing for a fetus due to a family history of this condition, an ARUP genetic counselor will review or request documentation of the familial CFTR variant(s) to confirm the CFTR gene test ordered will indeed assess for the causative variant(s) in the family.
Testing Coordination
GCs coordinate genetic testing with you as the ordering lab and/or healthcare provider to ensure we meet your patients’ needs.
Examples: Our GCs may assist with tiered testing on a prenatal sample, expedite testing for a hospitalized baby, or aid a pediatrician in submitting follow-up testing for an abnormal newborn screen.
Report Customization
GCs tailor many genetic test reports to your patient’s family and health history and summarize complex information so you can better understand the results and improve medical care for your patients.
Healthcare Provider Consultation
GCs are accessible, responsive, and available to consult with healthcare providers daily, and they offer guidance on test ordering and understanding results. When a clinical case is time sensitive, a GC will call you directly with urgent results (e.g., detection of a chromosome disorder in a newborn receiving intensive care).
Resources
Genetic counselors share their expertise via published educational materials.
View ListGenetic Counseling—Educating Future Genetic Counselors
University of Utah’s Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling
ARUP’s GCs host a three-week course for students in the University of Utah’s Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling (UUGPGC).
This course was developed by ARUP’s board-certified genetic counselors and medical directors to provide students with hands-on opportunities to learn about:
- Testing methodologies
- Testing strategies
- Variant assessment
- Genetic test result interpretation that incorporates a patient’s medical and family history
During this course, students will:
- Engage in a variety of topics, including cytogenetics, maternal serum screening, noninvasive prenatal testing, biochemical genetics, and molecular genetics
- Receive exposure to unique content areas such as pharmacogenetics, hemoglobinopathies, and newborn screening
- Gain an appreciation and understanding of the GC’s role in a clinical laboratory, which includes:
- Communicating complex results to clinicians
- Aiding clinicians with test selection and result interpretation
- Coordinating prenatal or familial testing
- Technical writing
- Customizing laboratory reports to reflect clinical or family history
