Aggregated News
Experts are warning Australians to be extremely careful when ordering genetic tests online, saying the tests may not meet Australian quality and reliability standards.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has released new advice for consumers, after genetic tests have become increasingly available on the internet and cheaper to buy.
NHMRC chief executive Professor Warwick Anderson said patients and consumers need to "be aware of the implications of using genetic tests which may preclude the advice or involvement of their doctor".
"Given phenomenal advances in genetic technologies, more and more companies are offering direct-to-consumer genetic tests," Professor Anderson said.
"These are being taken up by an increasing number of people who are curious about their ancestry or interested in learning about their predisposition to certain health conditions."
He warned while the tests may be cheaper online, there was no guarantee of their quality.
"Direct-to-consumer genetic tests are often offered by companies based overseas which may not meet Australian standards for quality and reliability for medical laboratory testing," he said.
"Consumers should be cautious about the accuracy...