Dear Colleagues,
Our laboratory now has an IRB-approved Research Consent Form for patients that are interested in participating in further studies, should their clinical testing not reveal the etiology of their disorder. We no longer require a consent form for clinical testing. Consent is only necessary, if the family wishes to be a part of possible studies in our laboratory after their clinical testing is completed. These studies are geared towards the better understanding of your patient's disease phenotype.
As part of the work in our laboratory towards identifying and better understanding the genetic basis of many of the conditions that our laboratory performs diagnostic testing for, we perform research-based studies on newly identified genes and additional candidate genes, look for different mutation types, and try out new technologies including next generation sequencing. Having consent from your patients that you send our laboratory for diagnostic testing will allow us to include your patient in such studies. Any positive findings will be communicated back to you. Participation in these studies may be of benefit to your patients and we hope that you will consider having your patients sign this consent form.
Please contact a laboratory genetic counselor at 773-834-0555 if you have any questions regarding this new consent form.
