Why the rise of DNA testing is creating challenges — and an opportunity

Twenty years ago, virtually all people seeking genetic testing were individuals diagnosed with diseases possibly linked to their genetic makeup. Today, millions of people order genetic tests to learn about their ancestry, as well as to understand what their genes say about their future health.

This rapid growth has created what some might see as a big problem and others might see as an opportunity. The problem? There hasn’t been a corresponding increase in genetics education and training health care providers about it, meaning that many people are reaching out to health care providers who are ill-prepared to incorporate genetic test results into clinical practice. The opportunity? Results from genetic testing can help health care providers engage with their patients on a deeper level about personal health risks, promoting health, and preventing disease.

Help may be on the horizon. A team representing the National Society of Genetic Counselors, an association of thousands of genetic counselors across the country, published guidance in early January for genetic counselors and other health care providers to handle what the authors call elective genomic testing...