American College of Medical Genetics makes genetic testing recommendations in ne

[Guest guest]

American College of Medical Genetics makes genetic testing

recommendations in new policy statement

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/acom-aco042408.php

What the public needs to know about direct-to-consumer genetic tests

Consumers are increasingly being marketed a broad range of genetic

tests. Paternity tests at the drugstore….Personal genome mapping…Gene

tests to predict future baldness. With ongoing genetic discoveries

and technology improvements, more genetic tests are available than

ever before and along with greater availability has come the

expansion of direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing. How can consumers make

informed decisions about genetic tests " To help address some of the

important questions raised about DTC genetic testing, the American

College of Medical Genetics has developed the ACMG 2008 Policy

Statement on Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing.

" Just because a genetic test exists, it does not mean it is right for

everyone or even right for anyone " , says S. , PhD,

FACMG, executive director of the American College of Medical

Genetics. " Medical genetic counseling, testing and treatments offer

tremendous possibilities for the future of health care and genetic

medicine will continue to play an increasing role in the timely

prevention, diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders but as in

any new and changing field, there is a lot of misinformation out

there and more research to be done. Consumers need to be cautious and

always involve their healthcare provider, and in some cases a medical

geneticist or genetic counselor, in their decisions about genetic

testing. "

Joe Leigh Simpson, MD, FACMG, president of the American College of

Medical Genetics says, " Decisions based on genetics are very personal

and can be difficult, emotional, costly and life-changing; they are

not to be undertaken lightly. The causes of many conditions are

complex and multifactorial including a combination of genetic,

lifestyle and environmental factors. The potential benefits to

mankind are tremendous but there are a great many questions still to

be answered and more research to be done to better understand how

genetics affects many conditions. "

The ACMG 2008 Policy Statement on Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

includes 5 minimum requirements for any genetic testing protocol.

Visit www.acmg.net for the complete ACMG Policy Statement.

The five recommendations include:

1) A knowledgeable health professional should be involved in the

process of ordering and interpreting a genetic test.

2) The consumer should be fully informed regarding what the test can

and cannot say about his or her health.

3) The scientific evidence on which a test is based should be clearly

stated.

4) The clinical testing laboratory must be accredited by CLIA, the

State and/or other applicable accrediting agencies.

5)Privacy concerns must be addressed.

" Geneticists and genetic counselors are the `professional guides to

the human genome' and can help patients make informed decisions about

choices related to genetic testing and provide invaluable support and

guidance in interpreting test results in light of personal and family

history. This is not an area where people should really `go it

alone,' " concluded Dr.