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Are health professionals ready for direct-to-consumer genetic and genomic testing?

    Heather Skirton

    * Author for correspondence

    Applied Health Genetics Research Group, Faculty of Health, Education & Society, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.

    ,
    Leigh Jackson

    Applied Health Genetics Research Group, Faculty of Health, Education & Society, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK

    ,
    Lesley Goldsmith

    Applied Health Genetics Research Group, Faculty of Health, Education & Society, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK

    &
    Anita O’Connor

    Applied Health Genetics Research Group, Faculty of Health, Education & Society, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/pme.13.71

    Direct-to-consumer genetic and genomic tests have been offered for over a decade. With the reduction in the cost of sequencing, the options for consumers will increase, with subsequent pressure on health services to interpret data and integrate the results into healthcare management. However, indications are that health professionals are grossly unprepared to deal with requests for support from those who have undertaken direct-to-consumer genetic or genomic tests. While benefits may be derived from patient-driven investigations, distinction needs to be made between the mostly uncertain clinical utility of susceptibility testing and the potential benefits of a reliably interpreted sequencing result. It is essential that we develop strategies, including enhanced professional education, to cope with the potential impact on the health services, rather than ignoring these developments. There may also be implications for the future of genetic counseling, with potential changes in the current paradigm.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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