What Is Our Role in Laboratory Testing?

Our genetic counselors (GCs) will guide you through the entire continuum of the genetic testing process, from providing guidance on test selection to helping you interpret test results. They can also help identify local clinical genetics services and resources available to you.

Contact an ARUP Genetic Counselor

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.

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Genetic 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