Tis the Season to … Spit?!

Guess what one of the most popular gifts purchased was during the 2017 holiday season?  Direct-to-consumer genetic tests. Yes, apparently a lot of spitting happened around that time or at least required it for discovering something about one’s health and ancestry.  These kits have been featured on celebrity shows, the news, and one particular brand was even on Oprah’s list of Favorite Things. Most likely it will continue to be a popular item this holiday season particularly with discounted prices and appealing (and rather aggressive) advertising directed at those wanting to know more about themselves. Many of these kits are even bought for numerous family members without even being requested. But, should the public purchase these kits without a second thought? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) think not. In fact, they and other agencies, associations, and organizations have attempted to caution those who are wanting to spit their genetic information into a tube. The “Think Before You Spit” campaign began in 2011 and has been regularly reprised by the CDC over the years.  Limitations of these sorts of tests were a concern when they first appeared on the market and continue to be even now. The validity and quality of these tests, whether for ancestry or health, need to be understood by users. No standard exists for these types of tests. Genetic testing is very complex and new discoveries and advances are continually occurring. And what about priv...
Source: Dragonfly - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Health Literacy/Consumer Health genetics genomics Source Type: news