RISK PERCEPTION AFTER CF CARRIER TESTING AND IMPACT OF THE TEST RESULT ON REPRODUCTIVE DECISION-MAKING

A correct interpretation of the result of a CF carrier test and a corr ect understanding of the risk of having a CF child is complicated by t he limited sensitivity of the DNA test, The present paper addresses th is problem, with special attention for the residual risk after a negat ive test result. Secondly, the impact of the test results on child bea ring decisions is evaluated. Seventy percent of a sample of 200 subjec ts tested in the Center for Human Genetics in Leuven answered a mailed questionnaire and participated in an interview. Knowledge about the r ecessive transmission of CF was weak, In the case of both partners rec eiving a negative test result, more than half the subjects were not aw are of the restrictions of DNA testing, and were convinced that there was no residual risk. Two thirds of the subjects from the 'carrier + n egative test result couples' were aware of the residual risk of having a CF child. This risk did not hamper further reproduction, Carriers w ho were single or whose partner was not tested, had much difficulties to understand the risk. Although most of them had no idea about their exact risk level, it influenced their childbearing decisions to some e xtent. It was also shown that the own risk of having a CF child had an impact on attitudes toward reproduction in hypothetical situations wi th different risk levels. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.