As a proactive step to improve public health and in efforts to promote informed health decisions in the UAE, The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has announced that mandatory genetic testing will be introduced as part of the premarital screening programme for all Emiratis planning to marry nationwide, starting early January 2025. This initiative follows a decision from the Emirates Genome Council, approved during the UAE government's annual meetings.
General Information
Premarital genetic screening is a process where couples undergo genetic tests to identify if they are carriers of shared genetic mutations that could be passed on to their future children and cause preventable genetic diseases. The comprehensive genetic testing list includes 570 genes that cover 840+ genetic disorders. It is important because it can help couples assess the risk of having children with genetic disorders and support them in making informed decisions about family planning.
Why Consider Premarital Genetic Testing?
Premarital genetic screening helps identify potential risks of passing on genetic disorders, allowing couples to make informed decisions and take preventive measures. However, various factors can influence a child's health, and genetic screening is just one aspect to consider in family planning. Consulting with healthcare professionals and genetic counselors is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks and available options premarital testing decreases congenital anomalies and can help prevent inherited genetic disorders.
Understanding Your Results
- Compatible: Both do not carry the same disease-causing variant, consultation done by the primary care physician within premarital sitting.
- Not compatible: Both carry the disease-causing variant. Consultation should be done by the genetic counselling privileged physicians; results are then sent to the Premarital Genetic Screening Committee
FAQ's
1. Is premarital genetic screening an essential component of the premarital screening programme?
As part of its efforts to promote informed health decisions in the UAE, the Emirates Genome Council announced that the genetic test will become an essential part of the premarital screening for all Emiratis planning to marry in the UAE as of early January 2025.
2. Why is the premarital screening programme important?
The purpose of the screening is to protect the public’s health by ensuring that potential infections are identified and addressed before marriage. The screening includes appointments with experts and physicians who provide premarital counselling and can address any other immediate health concerns. This measure is implemented to safeguard the health and well-being of individuals and their future offspring.
3. What is the difference between premarital screenings that were previously conducted and genetic testing?
Premarital screenings that were previously conducted help detect infectious diseases and three types of inherited disorders (Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia), whereas comprehensive genetic testing covers 570 genes that may lead to 840+ genetic diseases.
4. Why is premarital screening important?
- Premarital testing decreases congenital anomalies
- Reduces the transmission of inherited diseases like intellectual and/or motor disabilities, deafness, and early loss of vision, immunodeficiencies, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, favism (G6PD) and more.
- Assess the risk and probability of having affected offspring in case of known genetic conditions.
- Alleviates anxiety especially if there is a family history of certain genetic diseases or consanguinity.
- Decreases the physical and psychological burden on families through proper diagnosis and counseling early on.
- Support the couples with needed information and provide needed interventions and referrals.
5. What is premarital genetic screening?
Premarital genetic screening, an essential part of the premarital screening for all Emiratis planning to marry in the UAE, is a process where couples undergo genetic tests to identify if they are carriers of shared genetic mutations that could be passed on to their future children and cause preventable genetic diseases. The comprehensive genetic testing list includes 570 genes that cover 840+ genetic diseases. It is important because it can help couples assess the risk of having children with genetic disorders and support them in making informed decisions about family planning.
6. What services are provided to couples through the premarital genetic screening program?
- Revision of medical and family history including genetic diseases.
- Relevant blood tests.
- Arranging for specialist consultation as needed for genetic disorders that could be passed on to the next generation.
- Providing the necessary vaccines such as Rubella and Hepatitis B to susceptible individuals.
- Provide Human papilloma vaccine for Emirati females who didn’t receive the vaccination before.
- Providing health education and guidance on a healthy pregnancy and prenatal counseling.
- Address couples’ queries in regards the premarital tests.
- The comprehensive genetic testing for the most common genetic mutations (570 genes)
- Consulting with healthcare professionals privileged to do premarital genetic counselling.
7. What are the common genetic conditions screened for?
Testing couples before marriage for the most common genetic mutations (570 genes) that correspond to more than 840+ known preventable genetic diseases. These diseases include intellectual and/or motor disabilities, deafness, and early loss of vision, immunodeficiencies and congenital anomalies.
8. Does this premarital genetic screening ensure having healthy offspring and without any genetic disease?
Premarital genetic disease screening helps identify potential risks of passing on genetic disorders, allowing couples to make informed decisions and take preventive measures. Consulting with healthcare professionals is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks and available options. Premarital testing decreases congenital anomalies and can help prevent inherited genetic disorders.
9. What if one of the couples is a carrier of a genetic condition?
The genetic test results only show compatibility of the couples i.e. if the two couples are carrying the same genetic mutation, they would be non-compatible. Otherwise, the results will be compatible.
10. What do the results of the genetic testing mean?
- Compatible: both do not carry the same disease-causing variant, consultation done by the primary care physician within premarital sitting.
- Non-compatible: Both partners are carriers of the same disease-causing gene, consultation should be done by a genetic counsellor. For rare challenging cases, a clinical geneticist will be available for support.
11. Can couples get premarital genetic screening if we're already married?
Yes, you can still undergo genetic screening even if you're already married or planning to have children in the future by visiting genetic clinics
12. Does premarital genetic screening require further tests than the usual premarital screening tests?
Premarital genetic screening does not require additional tests other than having one extra blood sample from each of the partners collected.
13. Is premarital genetic screening confidential?
Yes, the results are strictly confidential and will only be disclosed to couples after their consent.