Clinical Genetics in Scotland

Genetic Testing in Scotland

Genetic testing in Scotland is provided through the Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium, which comprises the four Scottish Molecular Genetics laboriatories in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Clinical Geneticists (medical doctors who work with genetic patients) and genetic counsellors are available in each centre  to help with pre-test counselling and interpretation of the results to the patient and to other medical practitioners. Doctors who wish to arrange a genetic test should check with their local genetics department to find out whether a particular test is routinely available. Tests for disorders which are not routinely available may be available by special arrangement - you should discuss this with your local clinical genetics department. You can use this form to support your application to your local genetics service to organise the test.

The Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium is funded through the National Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland.

The Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium Users Group

This is a group of clinical genetics professionals and a representative from the Genetic Interests Group which meets twice a year (in June and December) to review the range of genetic tests available in Scotland and make recommendations to the Consortium Steering Group. The Steering Group oversees the work of the four Scottish Genetics laboratories. If you are aware of a genetic test which is not currently provided and you wish to propose that this new genetic test should be made available for the population of Scotland, please discuss this with your local genetics department first, and consider completing this form which should be returned to the Chairman of the Users Group, Department of Medical Genetics, Ashgrove House, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZA by the end of May or the end of November.

Cardiac Genetics in Scotland

Services for patients with suspected or proven familial arrhythmia in Scotland are coordinated through the Familial Arrhythmia Network Scotland. This is a managed clinical network involving clinical genetics doctors, cardiologists, pathologists and others to provide advice and investigations for families where an inherited disorder causing abnormal heart rythm has been diagnosed or is suspected. This includes conditions such as Long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, CPVT (catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia), Arrythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, and sometimes Hypertrophic and Dilated Cardiomyopathy. If you are looking for advice about one of these disorders, please contact your local genetics or cardiology departments. There will be a link soon to the FANS website.

The referral form for genetic testing of samples for a suspected familial arrhythmia gene can be found here.

Diagnostic assessment, genetic testing and family screening for Marfan syndrome and related disorders is available through your local genetics department.

Services for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia are being developed and further information will be available soon. Genetic testing can be accessed through your local lipid clinic or by discussion with your local genetic clinic. Medical professionals can use this form to see whether genetic testing should be considered for a patient with raised cholesterol. This form contains information for patients.