Laboratory News

Genetic Testing Sold on the Internet to Consumers May Trigger Smothering Federal Laws

Most pathologists and laboratory directors know that Congress and the Food and Drug Administration are considering a variety of laws and regulations to control genetic testing. Most of these laws have repressive features that would unduly burden legitimate clinical laboratories and scientific research centers from developing clinically-valid genetic assays and molecular tests.

What motivates Congress and federal regulators to take such heavy swats at regulating genetic testing is the explosion of Internet companies offering consumers a host of genetic tests-many of which have little demonstrated clinical value. Some genetic tests are blatant rip-offs and obvious frauds to physicians and trained healthcare experts. It is these obvious abuses of genetic science which are motivating lawmakers and federal regulators to come down hard on controlling genetic testing.

But the Web is not only home to fly-by-night genetic testing companies. In recent years, a number of legitimate enterprises have established a Web presence. These companies offer consumers not only genetic tests with proven clinical value, but education, counseling, and expertise by trained genetic and medical professionals. One such company is DNA Direct  of San Francisco, California. At this year's Executive War College, Trisha Brown, DNA Direct's Vice President, gave a powerful presentation about genetic testing on the Web. Brown explained the good, the bad, and the ugly of genetic testing in the Internet marketplace.

DNA Direct is a pioneer in promoting genetic tests directly to consumers. It was founded in 2003 specifically to provide consumers with access to the scientific community's best minds in genetic testing and other informational resources. The Executive War College crowd was kept in rapt attention as Brown explained why informed consumers are willing to pay thousands of dollars for genetic tests to better understand how family genetics and similar factors will affect their own personal health, as well as that of their family across several generations. She described categories of consumers, such as "the worried well," "the well-bodied," and "the rightly worried."

But what stunned the audience was when Brown began to show the Web sites of other companies already on the Web offering "genetic" tests for consumers, such as:

• HairDx  with genetic tests to help men and women determine their risk of early hair loss.
• My Cellf ( with tests for "DNA fitness" and to apply "the science of nutrigenetics to optimize athletic performance and overall health & wellness."
• Suracell Personal Genetic Health  which sells genetic tests and "exclusive nutraceuticals that work at the cellular level for optimal genetic health" to "interact with the five key cellular processes related to aging, based on the results of your Personal Genetic Analysis."
• ScientificMatch.com  "uses your DNA to maximize the chances of finding chemistry-actual, physical chemistry-with your matches. We look at your personal values to help you find a soul mate."

As the above examples demonstrate, the Internet has already become the "Wild West" for genetic tests aimed at separating consumers from their money. Just as the snake oil merchants of the frontier sold elixirs of unknown ingredients to willing buyers, so also is the Internet providing a similar opportunity for opportunists willing to ignore science and promise consumers anything.

Yet, at the same time, the Internet continues to be an effective communication channel for legitimate genetic testing companies as well as the nation's first-rank laboratory testing enterprises. This is the quandary facing the nation's lawmakers and regulators. The threat of misdirected laws and regulations is the fear of legitimate clinical laboratories everywhere.

To help pathologists and laboratory managers like you get a handle on Internet-based genetic testing and consumer trends, Trisha Brown will present a special audio conference on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Don't miss "Genetic Tests on the Internet: Understanding the Dangers-And Opportunities-For Your Lab!" , an information-packed, 90-minute conference on how these new tests and potential new regulations could affect your lab.

Listen as Trisha Brown explains the powerful trend of genetic tests on the Web, shares insights about consumers and their needs, and discusses strategies for clinical laboratories to establish the right Web presence and to get ready to serve consumers with information and access to relevant genetic tests. Get answers to your own questions and learn how to position your laboratory to succeed in this new online genetic testing world! Register today for you and your team to join us for this exceptional learning experience.

HOW TO REGISTER:

1. Online
2. Call toll free: 800-560-6363

Registrations accepted until Wednesday, June 25, 2008, noon EDT.

Cancellations before 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, June 23, 2008 may receive a full refund less a $25 service charge.

Your audio conference registration includes:

• A site license to attend the conference (invite as many people as you can fit around your speakerphone at no extra charge)
• Downloadable PowerPoint presentations from our speakers
• A full transcript emailed to you soon after the conference
• The opportunity to connect directly with our speakers during the audience Q&A session