I absolutely agree with this recent article about over the counter genetics tests doctors warn consumers to proceed with caution.
General population does not have enough background information in genetics to be able to understand the results they are going to receive. The results can be obvious like yes there is a mutation and you have a 100% you will develop a disease or, most of the time, it’s a predisposition testing and the result is a likelihood of developing a disease sometime in the person’s lifetime, which maybe minimal or never, but without adequate interpretation the client will not know that. Hopefully the clients would be smart enough to take the results to the geneticist, but it will still cause unnecessary anxiety.
I hear that the FDA is investigating.
About the Author
Monika Zak-Aptekar is a senior genetic counselor with specialty in cancer genetics. She developed and currently runs the cancer genetics program at Winthrop University Hospital. Since 2003, Winthrop has offered genetic counseling and risk assessment for patients with hereditary predisposition to cancer syndromes. Monika has a master’s degree in Biology and Education, and a second master’s degree in Human Genetics.
TAGS: genetics