Letters to the Editor
Am. J. Hum. Genet. 47:740, 1990
Screening for Cystic Fibrosis Carriers To the Editor:
We strongly support the views expressed by Professor Brock (1990) with regard to the considerable value of cystic fibrosis (CF) heterozygote screening using current technology. The ethical basis for opposition to the implementation of CF screening programs in the United States is obscure to us. It seems neither necessary nor desirable to delay access to a test now capable of detecting the large majority of CF carriers and families in which the CF gene is segregating-and more than 50% of couples in which both members are carriers. This is especially true because it is now known that the residual minority of CF chromosomes contain numerous different CF mutations; it is not obvious that this biological limitation to more reliable, efficient screening can be overcome in the near future by improved technology. We also endorse Professor Brock's point that benefits to the general public must take priority over possible perturbations within the health-care delivery system (expanded education and counseling efforts) if CF screening were implemented without delay. It should not be forgotten that concerns of this type were responsible for significant retardation in the development of alphafetoprotein-based screening programs for neural tube © 1990 by The American Society of Human Genetics. All rights reserved. 0002-9297/90/4704-0021$02.00
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defects in the United States long after our British colleagues had shown the way. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. JOSEPH D. SCHULMAN, ANNE MADDALENA, SUSAN H. BLACK, AND DAVID P. BICK Genetics & IVF Institute, Fairfax, VA; and Medical College of Virginia, Richmond References Brock D (1990) Population screening for cystic fibrosis. Am J Hum Genet 47:164-165
Am. J. Hum. Genet. 47:740-741, 1990
Regarding Criticism on Update of MSAFP Policy Statement from the ASHG To the Editor: Elias et al. (1990) recently published a letter to the editor criticizing the update on maternal serum alphafetoprotein (MSAFP) policy from The American Society of Human Genetics (Garver 1989). Specifically, they
Am. J. Hum. Genet. 47:740, 1990
Screening for Cystic Fibrosis Carriers To the Editor:
We strongly support the views expressed by Professor Brock (1990) with regard to the considerable value of cystic fibrosis (CF) heterozygote screening using current technology. The ethical basis for opposition to the implementation of CF screening programs in the United States is obscure to us. It seems neither necessary nor desirable to delay access to a test now capable of detecting the large majority of CF carriers and families in which the CF gene is segregating-and more than 50% of couples in which both members are carriers. This is especially true because it is now known that the residual minority of CF chromosomes contain numerous different CF mutations; it is not obvious that this biological limitation to more reliable, efficient screening can be overcome in the near future by improved technology. We also endorse Professor Brock's point that benefits to the general public must take priority over possible perturbations within the health-care delivery system (expanded education and counseling efforts) if CF screening were implemented without delay. It should not be forgotten that concerns of this type were responsible for significant retardation in the development of alphafetoprotein-based screening programs for neural tube © 1990 by The American Society of Human Genetics. All rights reserved. 0002-9297/90/4704-0021$02.00
740
defects in the United States long after our British colleagues had shown the way. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. JOSEPH D. SCHULMAN, ANNE MADDALENA, SUSAN H. BLACK, AND DAVID P. BICK Genetics & IVF Institute, Fairfax, VA; and Medical College of Virginia, Richmond References Brock D (1990) Population screening for cystic fibrosis. Am J Hum Genet 47:164-165
Am. J. Hum. Genet. 47:740-741, 1990
Regarding Criticism on Update of MSAFP Policy Statement from the ASHG To the Editor: Elias et al. (1990) recently published a letter to the editor criticizing the update on maternal serum alphafetoprotein (MSAFP) policy from The American Society of Human Genetics (Garver 1989). Specifically, they
