Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing Kits Vary in Predictions of Disease Risk

An in-depth analysis and comparison study conducted by investigators at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health demonstrated variations in predicted disease risks by companies that offer direct-to-consumer personal genome testing.

Led by Cecile Janssens, PhD, research professor of Epidemiology, the team investigated DNA test results from three "direct- to-consumer" genome testing companies (23andMe, deCODEme, and Navigenics) to assess and compare their predictive abilities. Results show that predicted risks differed among the companies and were contradictory for certain traits in certain individuals.

The complete findings are available in the online edition of Genetics in Medicine.

"Although two of the companies that we studied are no longer operating, genotyping and sequencing is becoming less expensive and testing such as this is increasingly popular," explains Janssens. "The methods used for predicting these types of results are of important concern."

Test results provided by the three companies indicated an individual's risks for a large number of diseases. The study was conducted by creating DNA data for a hypothetical population of 100,000 individuals which is a less expensive and equally valid method for demonstrating the...