TAG of the Week:
Welcome to Walgreens, a place where you can buy snacks, toothpaste, and a genetic DNA test...(let's take a pause)...
With high specificity and sensitivity rate, screening test and diagnostic testing are useful medical tools which can identify diseases, genetic disorders, and health issues. Once a patient is identified with a genetic disorder and with proper course of treatment, the manifestation of the disease can be prevented and even deaths can be avoided. What happens when genetic testing is offered outside the context of the doctor's office, and the choice of getting a genetic test lies directly in the hands of consumers, in the absence of the doctor's referral. In May 2010, the drug store, Walgreens, started to offer genetic testing kits products over the counter. Within a month, these kits were taken down from the store.
Current Event Los Angeles Times News:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/05/pathway-genomics-testing-kit-in-walgreens.html
If you were to market genetic testing products, would you have a disclaimer? What would it say?
Or in another scenario, a friend saw one these genetic testing products at CVS and is debating whether or not to purchase on these tests after finding out that her cousin has breast cancer. How would you advise your friend?