Genetic Carrier Screening

Monash IVF offers at-home genetic carrier screening to help your patients understand their reproductive options from the comfort of their own homes. This simple saliva test screens for up to 410 potential genetic conditions, making it one of the most comprehensive on the market.
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The best part? Once you’ve referred a patient, you don’t need to do anything! Our expert genetic counselling team and fertility specialists are on hand to support patients and provide them with personalised advice about their options for conceiving.

Thanks to our network of experienced fertility specialists, genetic counsellors, scientists, obstetricians, gynaecologists, sonographers and sonologists, donor and surrogacy experts and nursing teams across the country, Monash IVF Group can offer patients holistic, integrated care from genetic testing to counselling, all the way through to fertility treatment options and prenatal diagnosis if required.

Note, this test is available to everyone. Your patient does not need to be undergoing treatment at Monash IVF to use the test. RANZCOG recommends that anyone planning a pregnancy be offered genetic carrier screening, so it is recommended this is offered to all patients who are thinking about pregnancy.

Key information

  • Patients can choose between a three gene panel (attracts a Medicare rebate as of 1 November 2023) or an expanded 400+ gene panel
  • Patients can order and pay for the test themselves online, though they will need a referral form from their doctor to do so
  • A simple saliva swab performed at home and mailed back, with an approximate turnaround time of 4-6 weeks
  • Monash IVF’s experienced Genetic Counsellors guide the patients through the process via a telehealth appointment
Genetic Carrier Screening Options3-GeneExpanded (couple)
Conditions included in screen3400+
Patient OOP (for Medicare eligible individuals)$0 (bulk billed)$990/couple
Turnaround time once sample received2 weeks4-6 weeks
At-home saliva or in-clinic blood test options
Support from an in-house, qualified Genetic Counsellor
Support from reproductive and genetic experts in the event of a high-risk result
Expected number of couples identified as having a high chance result1 in 2401 in 50

Refer a patient

Monash IVF have developed a fact sheet with a QR code that takes patients directly to the online ordering function on our website where they can order and pay for the test themselves. You can visit this patient-facing online ordering page here or use the button below to download the fact sheet.

To order the test, patients will be required to upload a copy of their doctor's referral. The referral form can be downloaded here.

Download genetic carrier screening referral form

Download patient fact sheet

Download editable genetics request form

Download RTF genetics request form for practice software

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Why should you refer a patient to Monash IVF for carrier screening?

✓ Your patient and their partner or donor will identify important genetic information, which can help them make informed decisions about their options for conceiving.

✓ Our expanded panel is one of the most comprehensive tests on the market – we screen for 410 genes, and about 1 in 30 reproductive couples who have genetic carrier screening will find out they have an increased chance of having a child with a single gene condition.(1)

✓ You don’t need to do anything! Our expert genetic counselling team and fertility specialists are on hand to support the patient and provide them with personalised advice about their options.

✓ If the patient does end up needing to test embryos in IVF or find a gamete donor, we’re here to help them.

✓ No needles or hospitals are required - it's an easy saliva test your patients can do at home.

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What’s the cost?

Three gene carrier screening is bulk billed thanks to a Medicare rebate. To access this rebate, patients are required to enter their Medicare details and upload a photo or scanned copy of their doctor referral.

Expanded carrier screening costs $695 for an individual or $990 for a couple. This includes saliva testing kits, support from our genetic counsellors and a pre-paid return envelope.

We strongly recommend that testing is performed simultaneously for couples (or those using a known donor) to avoid delays and take advantage of the discounted couple pricing.

Download the genetic carrier screening referral form

Common Questions

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I have more questions. Who can I speak to?

If you have more questions, you can reach out the Monash IVF Genetics team via geneticsadmin@monashivf.com.

References

1. Berbic M, Hesson L, Clarke J, et al, (2022) Reproductive carrier screening (RCS) to identify Australian couples at risk of having children with autosomal recessive and X-linked conditions, RANZCOG Annual Scientific Meeting, October 2022.

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