Parental Testing for Prenatal Cases
Parental testing may be considered in cases of an abnormal result, in order to determine parental carrier status or recurrence risk.
Please see Signature Genomics’ Prenatal Microarray Services for details.
On occasion, parental blood samples may be needed to clarify a microarray result discovered in the prenatal sample. In most cases, this cannot be predicted in advance of PrenatalChip®OS or PrenatalChip®TE analysis. To expedite this process and provide rapid and comprehensive interpretation of prenatal test results, Signature Genomics recommends that parental blood samples are submitted with the prenatal sample. For each parent, please submit two tubes, each with 3-5 cc whole blood, one sodium heparin (NaHep) green-top tube and one EDTA purple-top tube and include the requisition form as instructed below.
Please note that analysis of parental samples has the potential to reveal unexpected DNA dosage alterations that may have clinical significance for the parent. Genetic counseling is strongly recommended prior to prenatal testing so that parents understand the implications of parental testing.
Parental samples will be held until prenatal test results are complete. If prenatal testing is normal, parental samples will not be tested and will be discarded according to established guidelines.
Parental samples may be submitted in advance of the fetal sample; however, if prenatal testing is subsequently cancelled or not pursued, there may be a DNA extraction charge for each parental sample processed (see Signature Test Cancellation Policy).
Requisition Form Instructions for Submitting Parental Samples
Parental samples may be sent separately from the prenatal sample, or with the prenatal sample. Below are specific instructions to complete the Prenatal Requisition Form to expedite processing of parental samples. Please call the Laboratory with questions. Incorrect or missing information may delay sample processing.
- Physician Signature: Informed Consent
- Provide physician or health care provider signature to acknowledge that the benefits and limitations of microarray testing have been discussed with each parent. There is a space for this signature at the top of the requisition form in the “Informed Consent” section. We provide a more detailed description of benefits, risks, and limitations on our Informed Consent for Molecular Cytogenetic Testing form, which you may wish to use in your discussions with your patients.
- Requisition Form
- The health care provider may use the previous requisition form that was sent with the prenatal sample. When using the requisition form that was originally filled out for the prenatal sample:
- Make a copy of this form so that you retain the original.
- Fill in the Parents’ Samples box at the bottom of page 1 of the requisition form: include name, date of birth, and sample type for each parent for whom you are submitting samples.
- Follow directions for submitting billing information (see below).
If you choose to fill out a new requisition form (for example, the requisition form that was filled out for the prenatal sample is no longer available):
- Fill in the patient’s name and date of birth that the prenatal sample was originally sent under. This allows us to link the cases together.
- Fill in the referring physician’s name and contact information.
- Fill in the Parents’ Samples box. Include name, date of birth, and sample type for each of the parents for whom you are submitting samples.
- Follow directions for submitting billing information (see below).
- Billing Information
- Fill out a second page of the requisition form for each parental sample submitted. Write in the patient’s name under which the prenatal sample was sent, and fill in the name and date of birth of the parent to whom the billing information corresponds.
- Institutional Billing:
Fill out the Institutional Billing section with financial contact information or Client ID. - Self-Pay:
Fill out information as requested in this section. - Insurance Billing:
If Signature Genomics is to bill the patient’s insurance, it is important that we have signatures for each person who is having a sample submitted. Please read the statements carefully.
- Institutional Billing:
How to Submit a Prenatal Sample
For step-by-step instructions on submitting a prenatal sample, please visit our How To Submit a Prenatal Sample page.