Consumer genetic tests

A July 31 FDA consumer alert advises that at-home genetic tests "may lack scientific validity or provide meaningful results only in the context of a full medical evaluation." The Government Accountability Office recently issued a report evaluating the genetic tests and found some made disease-risk claims and offered dietary advice that "rarely goes beyond standard sensible dietary recommendations" (1"The Tan Sheet" July 31, 2006, p. 9). The Federal Trade Commission also recently reminded consumers that "because of the complexities involved in both the testing and the interpretation of the results, genetic tests should be performed in a specialized laboratory, and the results should be interpreted by a doctor or trained counselor"...