Jewish families may be at risk for one of these tragic disorders:  Bloom syndrome, Canavan Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Familia Dysautonomia, Fanconi Anemia, Gaucher Disease, Mucolipidosis IV, Niemann-Pick Disease and Tay Sachs Disease.

At this event, planned by the Jewish Genetic Diseases Center of Greater Phoenix, carrier testing will be available at a subsidized cost of $50 for individuals ages 18-45.  For individuals over 45, testing will be available for $300.  The usual cost of these tests exeeds $2,500.

One in 6 (15 percent) of Jewish individuals of Ashkenazi/Eastern European descent are carriers for one or more of the Jewish genetic diseases.  Carrier status can be determined with a simple blood test.  Carrier testing is recommended prior to pregnancy.

Test results are confidential.

Pre-registration is required.  To register, call 480-668-3347 or log on to http://www.jewishgeneticsphx.org.

Funding for this and other Jewish Genetic Diseases programs is provided by The Jewish Community Foundation, Hadassah Valley of the Sun Chapter, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, the Daron and Ron Barness Family Foundation and the March of Dimes Arizona Chapter.