TY - JOUR
T1 - Direct-to-consumer sales of genetic services on the Internet
AU - Gollust, Sarah E.
AU - Wilfond, Benjamin S.
AU - Hull, Sara Chandros
PY - 2003/7
Y1 - 2003/7
N2 - Purpose: The increasing use of the Internet to obtain genetics information and to order medical services without a prescription, combined with a rise in direct-to-consumer marketing for genetic testing, suggests the potential for the Internet to be used to sell genetic services. Methods: A systematic World Wide Web search was conducted in May 2002 to assess the availability of genetic services sold directly to consumers on the Internet. Results: Out of 105 sites that offered genetic services directly, most offered non-health-related services, including parentage confirmation testing (83%), identity testing (56%), and DNA banking (24%); however, health-related genetic tests were offered through 14 sites (13%). The health-related genetic tests available ranged from standard tests, such as hemochromatosis and cystic fibrosis, to more unconventional tests related to nutrition, behavior, and aging. Of these 14 sites, 5 described risks associated with the genetic services and 6 described the availability of counseling. Conclusions: The availability of direct sales of health-related genetic tests creates the potential for inadequate pretest decision making, misunderstanding test results, and access to tests of questionable clinical value.
AB - Purpose: The increasing use of the Internet to obtain genetics information and to order medical services without a prescription, combined with a rise in direct-to-consumer marketing for genetic testing, suggests the potential for the Internet to be used to sell genetic services. Methods: A systematic World Wide Web search was conducted in May 2002 to assess the availability of genetic services sold directly to consumers on the Internet. Results: Out of 105 sites that offered genetic services directly, most offered non-health-related services, including parentage confirmation testing (83%), identity testing (56%), and DNA banking (24%); however, health-related genetic tests were offered through 14 sites (13%). The health-related genetic tests available ranged from standard tests, such as hemochromatosis and cystic fibrosis, to more unconventional tests related to nutrition, behavior, and aging. Of these 14 sites, 5 described risks associated with the genetic services and 6 described the availability of counseling. Conclusions: The availability of direct sales of health-related genetic tests creates the potential for inadequate pretest decision making, misunderstanding test results, and access to tests of questionable clinical value.
KW - Direct-to-consumer services
KW - Education
KW - Genetic testing
KW - Internet
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U2 - 10.1097/01.GIM.0000076972.83711.48
DO - 10.1097/01.GIM.0000076972.83711.48
M3 - Article
C2 - 12865763
AN - SCOPUS:0042525886
SN - 1098-3600
VL - 5
SP - 332
EP - 337
JO - Genetics in Medicine
JF - Genetics in Medicine
IS - 4
ER -