Controversial DNA Test Kits To Hit Store Shelves
Drugstore Chain to be First to Sell Home DNA Tests
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Anyone arrested for a felony could face a DNA test, which a judge compared to fingerprints.
The Walgreens Drugstore chain plans to start selling personal genetic testing kits, a move that is upsetting to federal regulators and has health professionals concerned.
The kits, made by the San Diego-based startup Pathways Genomics, will hit store shelves on Friday. CVS plans to have the same kits on its store shelves by August. Walgreens is the first major retail chain to offer the home tests which federal officials say have not been approved for sale in the United States.
The over-the-counter kits have been available on the Internet, but health officials are concerned that consumers will misuse or misunderstand the DNA results. A Food and Drug Administration official said this week that the agency is investigating the medical claims made by Pathways in marketing its genetic tests.
But a Pathways official asserted that the tests do meet federal regulations and do not need federal approval.
The test kit which is sold under the brand name “Insight” allegedly provides information on the risk of getting certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s or breast cancer. Pathways claims it will screen for genetic markers of more than 70 diseases.
And this is the heart of the controversy.
Genetics experts say consumers should receive such information from their doctor so the results are not misinterpreted. Furthermore, scientists warn there is no concrete test for Alzheimer’s because researchers are not sure what causes the disease.
The Insight test will sell for $20 to $30. It comes with a vial and a shipping envelope. Buyers send a sample of their saliva to Pathways Genomics and they will receive their results online. The cost of the online account to view the results will run from $79 to $179 depending on the type of test.
