This webpage contains Internet links that relate to conditions and programs found on our web site as well as general Kaiser Permanente links.

General Genetics Medical Release Form A copy of a KP medical release form. Patients may use this form to request and authorize that their medical records from one medical provider/facility be delivered to another medical provider/facility. KP Genetic Counseling Services A brochure describing the genetic counseling services in the Northern California Region. Includes a description of who should consider genetic counseling, and what happens in a genetic counseling appointment. KP Family Health Portrait -- Description and Family Tree This is a family history tool designed to help patients record their own family health history. KP Genetic Discrimination Fact Sheet This brochure provides facts on genetic discrimination in health insurance. Bonding with your Special Needs Child Tips for parents on techniques for healthy bonding with a child who has special needs. Siblings of children with special needs A description of the challenges faced by the brothers and sisters of children with special needs. Some creative solutions are presented. general genetics links           top Genetics and Pregnancy Prenatal Testing for Birth Defects: Helping You Decide This handout provides general information about the different testing options available to all pregnant women. It also offers some basic guidelines to help with decisions about which test to choose. Prenatal Testing for Birth Defects: Helping You Decide (En Español) Prenatal Testing Decision Tree A tool to help decide which prenatal test is the best choice based on answers to a series of questions. First Trimester Screening A description of first trimester screening, an early prenatal screening test. The advantages and disadvantages of the testing are reviewed. A comparison with second trimester screening is provided. Expanded AFP Screening links section Amniocentesis and CVS Brochure A comprehensive booklet on two prenatal diagnosis procedures: amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. The risks, benefits and limitations of both procedures is reviewed. Amniocentesis Brief Fact Sheet An easy-to-read fact sheet about amniocentesis. The risks, benefits and limitations of the procedure are reviewed. CVS Brief Fact Sheet An easy-to-read fact sheet about chorionic villus sampling. The risks, benefits and limitations of the procedure are reviewed. After Amniocentesis Instructions English/Spanish A handout with after-procedure instructions for women who have undergone amniocentesis or CVS. Also available in Spanish. Informed Consent for Amniocentesis A copy of the informed consent that patients are asked to sign before having an amniocentesis procedure. Informed Consent for CVS A copy of the informed consent that patients are asked to sign before having a CVS amniocentesis procedure . Folic acid & pregnancy This tip sheet presents a description of folic acid, an important B vitamin, and reviews its role in the prevention of certain birth defects. Prenatal Ultrasound Ultrasound in Pregnancy A description of ultrasound exams, particularly, how and when ultrasound is used during pregnancy. Choroid plexus cysts This brochure describes the ultrasound finding known as fetal choroid plexus cysts, and explains what they may mean for your baby. Echogenic Intercardiac Focus Single Umbilical Artery Genetic Carrier Screening Genetic Carrier Tests A brochure that provides information about KP prenatal ethnicity-based screening tests. A thorough description of the incidence, symptoms and detection rates for a variety of common autosomal recessive disorders. Canavan Disease Carrier A brief description of what it means to be a carrier for Canavan disease. Cystic Fibrosis Carrier A brief description of what it means to be a carrier for cystic fibrosis disease. Familial Dysautonomia Carrier A brief description of what it means to be a carrier for familial dysautonomia. Tay-Sachs Disease Carrier A brief description of what it means to be a carrier for Tay-Sachs disease. Expanded AFP Screening Expanded AFP Information The website California state of the Genetic Disease Branch. Links to valuable patient oriented information about Expanded AFP blood screening tests. ExAFP Easy-to-Read A brief brochure describing the Expanded AFP blood test in simple, easy-to-understand terms. ExAFP Screening, Under 35 A booklet describing the details of the Expanded AFP blood test for pregnant women who will be under the age of 35 years when their baby is due to be born. ExAFP Screening 35 and Over A booklet describing the details of the Expanded AFP blood test for pregnant women who will be over the age of 35 years when their baby is due to be born. The testing options available to these women are reviewed. Informed Consent/Refusal for Expanded AFP A copy of the informed consent/refusal that pregnant women are asked to sign to document their decision whether or not they choose to have Expanded AFP blood screening. Screen positive for Neural Tube Defects and Abdominal Wall Defects A booklet that provides a brief explanation of the meaning of an Expanded AFP test result that is "Screen positive for neural tube defects". This booklet is intended to supplement individual genetic counseling. Screen positive for Down Syndrome A booklet that provides a brief explanation of the meaning of an Expanded AFP test result that is "Screen positive for Down syndrome". This booklet is intended to supplement individual genetic counseling. Screen positive for Trisomy 18 A booklet that provides a brief explanation of the meaning of an Expanded AFP test result that is "Screen positive for trisomy 18". This booklet is intended to supplement individual genetic counseling. general genetics links           top Cancer Genetics Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Frequently asked questions about the genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The advantages and disadvantages of genetic testing for these susceptibility genes are reviewed. Breast Cancer Screening A comprehensive fact sheet about breast cancer screening. Recommendations for average risk and high risk women are included. Why Should I Be Tested for Colorectal Cancer? A fact sheet that outlines the forms of screening for colorectal cancer, the third leading cause of cancer deaths. general genetics links           top Education Links National Coalition for Health Providers Education in Genetics This is the web site for NCHPEG, the national organization devoted to promoting health professional education and access to information about advances in human genetics to improve the health of the nation. Surgeon General's Family History Tool This web site provides a web-based tool supported by the Surgeon General that helps users organize family history information and then print it out for presentation to the family doctor. In addition, the tool helps users save their family history information to their own computer and even share family history information with other family members. AMA Family History This web site of the American Medical Association describes importance of family medical history in disease prevention and provides links to resources on how to collect family history information and generate a simple pedigree. GeneTests This web site is a publicly funded medical genetics information resource developed for physicians, other healthcare providers, and researchers. Includes Gene Reviews, an online publication of expert-authored disease reviews, an international directory of genetic testing laboratories, genetics and prenatal clinics, as well as web-based educational materials. California Dept. of Health Services, Genetic Disease Branch Home page of the Genetic Disease Branch of the California Department of Health Services. Contains links to the Newborn Screening and Prenatal Screening Sections and the Genetic Disease Laboratory. Learn Genetics/University of Utah This is the home page for The Genetic Science Learning Center, an outreach education program located in the midst of bioscience research at the University of Utah. Its mission is to help people understand how genetics affects their lives and society. Many excellent tutorials and interactive lessons. Genetics Education Center/University of Kansas Medical Center This web site is used by teachers, students, genetic counselors, geneticists, other health care professionals, families, and other educators. It contains three interlinked main home pages with a wealth of information targeted to all of these distinct groups. National Society of Genetic Counselors This is the web site for the national professional organization for genetic counselors. Use this site to find a genetic counselor in your area. Individual sections provide information about the profession of genetic counseling, genetic counseling resources and membership information. Genetics Home Reference/National Institute of Health Genetics Home Reference is the National Library of Medicine's web site for consumer information about genetic conditions and the genes or chromosomes related to those conditions. Provides easy-to-understand and comprehensive information about health topics that have a genetic component. Includes a basic tutorial on how genes work. general genetics links           top