Medical knowledge doubles every few months; how can clinicians keep up? Healthcare practitioners struggle to keep on top of every new piece of information, and that can have an impact on client care. Research shows that it takes an average of 17 years for research based evidence to reach clinical practice. It has also been stated that laboratory testing directly affects 70% of the clinical decisions in the patient pathway. In addition, testing is only as good as the information programmed into the test, which is far behind the available research data. In other words, there is a huge gap between advancements in research and practice.

 

DNA testing has become very popular, with close to 30 million Americans having used these services. Genetic testing can provide only limited information about a condition associated with a dis-ease or symptoms. The test often can't determine if a person will show symptoms of a disorder, how severe the symptoms will be, or whether the disorder will progress over time. Another major limitation is the lack of treatment strategies for many genetic disorders once they are diagnosed.

 

Did you know that 40% of variants in a variety of genes reported in DTC raw data were false positives? Both false-positive results and misclassification of variants can result in significant implications for an individual, including unnecessary stress, medical procedures (e.g., surgery, frequent screenings), and testing of family members. All of these factors have the potential to result in an unwarranted financial burden on individuals and the healthcare system overall.

 

Here's the thing...NONE of the genes associated with dis-ease are likely to EVER show up in a lab test. And, even if they did people may experience disappointment in a lack of comprehensive diagnostic analysis and stratagies to implement.

 

Even with advanced diagnostic testing other than Family Tree DNA, My Heritage, 23andMe, ancestry.com, etc., there are limitations. Tests like Molecular tests, Targeted single variants, Single genes, Gene panels, Whole exome sequencing/whole genome sequencing, Chromosomal tests, Gene expression tests, Biochemical tests, and Screening tests are helpful but are still lacking. Plus the results of genetic tests are not always straightforward, which often makes them challenging to interpret and explain.

 

It is important to note that a positive result of a predictive or presymptomatic genetic test usually cannot establish the exact risk of developing a disorder. Also, healthcare providers typically cannot use a positive test result to predict the course or severity of a condition.

 

Then there is the fact that 40% of test results can be false positive. Couple that with associated costs and it's a losing game. The cost of genetic testing can range from under $100 to more than $2,000, depending on the nature and complexity of the test. The cost increases if more than one test is necessary or if multiple family members must be tested to obtain a meaningful result. Also, from the date that a sample is taken, it may take a few days to weeks to receive the test results.

 

Many of the risks associated with genetic testing involve the emotional, social, or financial consequences of the test results. People may feel angry, depressed, anxious, or guilty about their results. In some cases, genetic testing creates tension within a family because the results can reveal information about other family members in addition to the person who is tested. The possibility of genetic discrimination in employment or insurance is also a concern.

 

This Is Why DNA Diligence Was Developed

 

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