Freak yourself out with new at-home genetic testing kit

[Refugee 7]

Attention hypochondriacs! If you are feeling the need to seriously freak yourself out, look no further than your local Walgreens store! Yup, starting Friday you can purchase an at-home test kit that allows people who, well, worry about these things (obsessively) to see if their DNA makes them more likely to develop one (or more!) of dozens of different health conditions. Breast cancer? Check. Heart disease? Check! Alzheimer's disease? Can do! Just swab your cheek, pop it in the mail and within a week or so, your life will be completely ruined!

From The Chicago Tribune:

The product's introduction raises immediate concerns among scientists, bio-ethicists and genetic counselors. They worry that consumers will misuse or misunderstand the results of a test so open to interpretation it is potentially meaningless, or frightening, especially without a full medical assessment.

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration told the Tribune it is investigating the medical claims the product's manufacturer, California-based Pathway Genomics, is making in marketing its genetic test, which hasn't been approved by U.S. regulators.

Pathway officials say the company's home genetic test meets federal regulations and doesn't require FDA approval.

"The tests conducted are not an in-vitro medical device and are not intended for use in diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or cure of disease. It does provide information that allows a person to learn about their health to make healthier lifestyle choices," said Ed MacBean, Pathway's vice president of product management. "If the FDA contacts us, we will discuss it and address any concerns they might have."

To this I add merely... "Yikes." This product will have all kinds of unintended consequences, methinks.

Results for the tests cost between $79 to $179, depending on the type of tests you chose.

[WildflowerNJ 136]

Yikes, is right...

[nurktwin 2,143]

i'll bet the police depts love it, they'll have a whole new database of suspects to go after for free.

[Amber 70]

Some things you are better off not knowing......

[emmie 2]

^ Exactly!

[Pettyjunkie 0]

This product is not a good idea at all! Scientists and doctors should be the only ones to do genetic testing. It is an incredibly confusing subject manner and it's going to cause some turbulent storms.

[LizzieB 0]

Wow. I consider myself OCD and a health nut, but I would NEVER use this product.

[kelly 0]

I just heard on teh news last night that someone in the Walgreens corp. had a change of heart, and that they are NOT going to be selling this kit in their stores.

[Beamish 0]

I'd be afraid to use this- it might reveal my alien DNA.