Search Results for: blog fda considers regulating dna testing kits

Check Out These Bizarre Genealogy Related Products

Posted on by

Strange things happen when companies try to market to genealogists. The obvious choice would be for a company to offer to make your family tree into a beautiful piece of artwork. It would make a certain amount of sense for a company to make customized t-shirts or coffee mugs with a surname printed on them. Sometimes, though you end up with some really bizarre items, instead. You have probably heard of companies that sell DNA testing kits. These have been marketed to genealogists for two primary reasons. The company can analyze your DNA and point out other customers whose DNA … Continue reading →

Genetic Counseling

If you have recently had a child, chances are that you learned a fair amount about genetic testing during your prenatal care appointments. You may even have gone in for one or more of the genetic screening tests that are now widely available. In addition to genetic testing, genetic counseling is also available. It seems to me that the midwives that I saw for prenatal visits did some of the same things that a genetic counselor would do. If there had been things in my medical history or test results that required further investigation I would probably have been referred … Continue reading →

Home Genetic Tests Could Require Involvement From Doctors

Posted on by

Recently, the FDA put together an advisory panel in order to figure out what regulations should be put in place in regards to direct to consumer DNA testing kits. The opinions of the experts has lead the FDA to conclude that at least some of these genetic tests should require the involvement of a doctor. If so, this could, potentially, change how easy it is for genealogists to use these tests to create their medical family tree. The discovery of the human genome, and all the research that has been done on it, has occurred in a relatively short span … Continue reading →

FDA Considers Regulating DNA Testing Kits

Posted on by

Those DNA test kits that you can buy from a website sure look tempting. Genealogists often find them interesting because they can learn more about their ancestors based on the analysis of their DNA sample. Many people use these tests to learn more about their health risks. The Food and Drug Administration is considering putting regulations in place regarding these direct to consumer DNA kits. You may want to wait a little longer before purchasing one. In some cases, doctors will recommend that a patient have genetic testing done. The purpose may be to determine the risk a couple has … Continue reading →