NewsOctober 28, 2008For Immediate Release Contact: Ron Geigle, 571-435-0413 More info: www.labresultsforlife.org Genetic testing is much more "front-line" than "online," say experts. (Washington DC) — The vast majority of genetic tests are used in front-line health delivery to improve diagnosis and treatment for such conditions as HIV, childhood leukemia, and cardiovascular disease, according to experts at a Washington D.C. briefing held today. In contrast, they said, the direct-to-consumer, online genetic testing services that have generated extensive media attention are only a tiny segment of testing. The session, "A Primer on Genetic Testing: What Is It? How Does It Work? Why Does It Matter?", featured nationally known experts who addressed the science, economics, and policy issues of genetic testing. It was sponsored by Results for Life, a non-profit group of laboratory professionals, clinical laboratories, and test manufacturers. (All speaker materials and background information are available at www.labresultsforlife.org.) "There is massive confusion over what genetic testing is all about," said Alan Mertz, President of the American Clinical Laboratory Association. "How many people understand that genetic tests are the primary reason that people are no longer dying from HIV? How many people understand that genetic tests are the reason that the survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukemia is now more than 80% versus 4% in the 1960s? These are well-established, real-time, real-world tests that are saving lives today—and should not be overshadowed by the media coverage of the direct-to-consumer, online tests." Mertz said that policymakers and the news media must have a full and accurate understanding of genetic testing and its true impact if policymakers are to knowledgeably address the policy questions that lie ahead regarding genetic testing. "Here, I am thinking of everything from future regulation to future reimbursement, along with privacy, validation, and all the other issues that come up along the way," he said. "There are legitimate questions and concerns—as there have been with virtually all major advances in medicine over the last 100 years. We must deal with those important questions. But we must deal with them from a sound and accurate understanding of what genetic testing is and what it does." Some examples of the tests identified today that are improving diagnosis and treatment include the following:
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