For a while now, there have been at-home genetics tests that
people have been able to use. Recently, however, the FDA has approved a new and
improved version of this take-home test. Now, these tests will be able to
provide us with much more information that just telling us where our ancestors
are from (which is still pretty cool). A company, 23andMe (and probably some
other companies as well), will now be selling take-home genetics tests that can
tell us how likely a person is to develop
diseases. This test will look for markers associated with 10 different
diseases: factor XI deficiency, a blood clotting
disorder; Gaucher disease type 1, an organ and tissue illness; and celiac
disease.
I think that this is
absolutely a good idea and a great advance in technology. Although it’s a
little pricey (basically $200 a test) I think anybody who receives a positive
result for one of the diseases would pay even more money to have this
information. We pay doctors hundreds of dollars throughout our lifetime
(especially those who are sick or have these diseases) so the cost is really
not significant. There have been concerns about the results of these tests
being dangerous to patients because some say “once you read the results, there
is no going back”. But I firmly believe it is better to know ahead of time and be
able to prevent things or at least take action sooner as opposed to not knowing
and being oblivious to health issues that you may have.
