After a brief hiatus, the Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics has revamped its genetic screening program and is once again offering genetic screenings for Jewish and Interfaith couples, as well as individuals.

A new medical partner, Insight Medical Genetics, will provide genetic screening services.

“The Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics wants carrier screening to be accessible for all Jewish and interfaith couples in Illinois,” said director Jason Rothstein.

The Sarnoff Center’s screening program uses a panel that includes the 19 Ashkenazi Jewish disorders such as Tay-Sachs disease, Canavan disease, Gaucher disease, and cystic fibrosis, and 60 more pan-ethnic conditions. It also includes Fragile X screening for women, unless otherwise requested.

“As part of updating our program, we changed the cost structure to make testing more affordable for participants,” Rothstein said. “Participants pay a nominal fee upfront – $99 with private insurance, $349 without – to cover non-testing parts of the program.”

The Sarnoff Center’s medical provider works with insurers and the laboratory to cover the costs of the actual genetic test, but the Center offers patient assistance to participants who request it to cover expenses not reimbursed by insurance. The Sarnoff Center may also waive the program fee in cases of financial hardship.

To participate, couples or individuals register with the Sarnoff Center and take a short online course to prepare them for the screening test. After completing the test, participants register with the medical provider. They receive a saliva sample kit in the mail, which they return directly to the provider.

Results are generally available within two to three weeks after returning a sample. A genetic counselor follows up with all participants, and in-person appointments are available to those who may need them- although most participants do not.

While most participants can complete the screening process entirely from home, Sarnoff Center staff and genetic counselors are available at every step of the process to answer questions and provide assistance.

“Ideally, people get screened prior to conceiving a child, but our program serves many people who are already expecting,” Rothstein said. “In the case of pregnant participants, the Sarnoff Center can work with its medical partner to expedite the process.”

Many people participate at the same time as their partners, but both must register and complete the education and screening process individually, he added.

In addition to genetic screening and other resources related to genetic disorders, the Sarnoff Center also provides community education and advocacy related to hereditary cancers in the Jewish community, particularly those related to the BRCA mutation, which greatly increases the risk for breast cancer in women and men; ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma.

The Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics is a supporting foundation of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago .

For information or to register, visit www.jewishgenetics.org , or email [email protected]