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The soaring advances of genetic science hold the promise of a utopian, disease-free future. But in communities across the nation, the path from genetic testing to disease prevention has become a quagmire.

Genetic tests may produce inaccurate results and obscure prognoses without offering clear-cut strategies. Even a positive carrier of a hereditary disorder may never become ill.

And tests are not regulated. Grievously, the only certainty is that being tested increases the likelihood of DNA-based discrimination including denial or loss of health insurance — especially for carriers of genetically predictive diseases such as breast cancer.

In the wake of the news that Ashkenazi Jewish women may be at higher risk of inheriting certain breast cancer gene mutations, deep concern is spreading throughout the Jewish community. In addition to the possibility of discovering and dealing with a genetic predisposition toward breast cancer, women are asking vital questions about how genetic information can be used against them.

Fear of discrimination is reality-based. A recent Georgetown University survey of 322 individuals with known genetic predispositions revealed that 22 percent were denied insurance coverage.

An earlier survey at the federal Office of Technology Assessment found that 17 of 29 insurers would not cover individuals whose tests revealed they were carriers of a chronic disease. And current research continues to corroborate that current state and federal laws offer limited protection against genetic discrimination and only to select Americans.

It is no wonder that many women at high cancer risk are choosing not to be tested, afraid that their premiums will rise or their coverage be canceled.

But this decision may prevent some women from learning about potential treatment or preventive lifestyle changes. Others, avoiding full disclosure about family medical histories to physicians, may not receive adequate diagnoses.

Current genetic research programs are also suffering as fewer individuals participate in medical research. As a result, advancement toward lifesaving discoveries may be slowed and even blocked.

For many months, Hadassah and members of a broad-based national coalition have been urging support of federal legislation to stop insurance companies from denying, canceling, refusing to renew or changing health insurance terms based on genetic information.

We have urged our 300,000-plus members to rally in support of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Act by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and the Womens' Health and Cancer Rights Act by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).

Both proposals will require written informed consent before an insurer is able to share genetic information with a third party. In all, 218 co-sponsors are needed to move the Slaughter bill directly to the House floor. The White House is now expressing real interest in supporting this legislation.

While the fear that Jewish women will become an insurance underclass is an authentic threat, genetic discrimination is not just an issue for Jewish women or for women in particular. Sadly, a well-documented reality of health insurance discrimination exists for carriers of sickle-cell anemia, Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis.

Hereditary diseases, though not more prevalent, are fast becoming more identifiable. More than 15 million Americans today are affected by more than 4,000 genetic disorders and diseases. Scientific American magazine estimated in 1994 that every person has between 5 and 10 defective genes, though they often do not manifest.

As scientists race to find genetic markers for many of these diseases, and commercial testing companies approach the general public, individuals of all ages, all races and all ethnic backgrounds stand to suffer as they are judged by their genetic inheritance.

The time to combat this injustice is now. Please call your member of congress and urge him or her to sign on. We must ensure that Jewish women, and all Americans, have protected access to information that may prove vital to their health and to their lives.

Genetic science must be used to advance health care — not deny access to it.