fears surround over-the-counter genetic tests
would you want to know your life’s fate ?
would you want to know whether you could get alzheimer’s as you age? would you want to know if you have a gene common in breast cancer?
it’s possible with a new genetics kit available over-the-counter. you go to a drugstore, buy the kit, spit in a vial, mail it off, and then receive the results.
the only thing new here is the product’s availability to consumers. these tests have always been available at your doctor’s office if you asked for it. having a doctor interpret your tests for you can be valuable. many concierge medicine doctors run these tests for their patients as a part of their preventative medicine care.
the washington post wrote an article about fears surrounding these over-the-counter genetic tests. i’ve cut and paste some quotes from the article below :
Critics have said that results will be too vague to provide much useful guidance because so little is known about how to interpret genetic markers.
Others have said that the test is irresponsible and could give many buyers a dangerous false sense of security or, conversely, needlessly alarm them.
“Information is powerful, but misunderstood information can be powerfully bad.
The pregnancy planning test could prompt couples to decide not to get married or have children when their risk of having a baby with a disorder could be small. Or it could lead those who decide to proceed to seek genetic testing of the fetus, which could lead to more abortions.
i hope there is more education for consumers regarding test results. it’s true that if a test tells you, you may have an increased risk for breast cancer, you may think nothing of it if you didnt know there was more than one kind of breast cancer gene that can mutate. but, any primary care provider will inquire about whether you got a mammogram or not when you’re of age. and if you tell that doctor the OTC genetic test results, most likely the doctor or NP or PA will tell you to get a mammogram any way and inform you of the other possible breast cancer genes.
what do you think? would you buy this genetic kit and get tested ?
i would. and you can be sure i’ll talk to my doctor about the results.
read the full article by the washington post here.
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