Empowering Consumers through Accurate Genomic Tests
        
            By Jeffrey Shuren, 
                FDA Voice
             | 06. 26. 2014
        
                    
                                    
                    
                                                                                                                                    
                                                                            
                              
    
  
  
    
  
          
  
      
    
             
  Untitled Document 
  
 
    We’ve   come to recognize that almost every disease has a genetic component,   and many consumers now are eager to know more about their genetic   profiles. They need only send a sample of their DNA collected from their   saliva or from a cheek swab to a company, and in exchange they’ll get   back information about their genetic risk for development of future   disease.
 
     
      FDA   understands and supports people’s interest in having access to their   genetic information and believes such information can help them make   more informed choices about their health – so long as that genetic   information is accurate – that the results are correct, meaningful and   written in a way that consumers can understand. FDA reviews genetic   tests for medical conditions, whether they are intended to be ordered by   a healthcare practitioner or directly by the consumer, to assure that   consumers receive accurate test results.
 
      Telling someone they are at high risk for a life-threatening cancer   when they are not—or that they are at low risk for diabetes when they   actually are at high risk for this chronic...
  
 
 
  
 
    
    
  
   
                        
                                                                                
                 
                                                    
                            
                                  
    
  
  
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