After conducting investigations into several companies’ direct-to-consumer genetic tests, the US Government Accountability Office discovered that many of the companies made medically unproven predictions.
According to a recent government investigation, people who purchased genetic testing kits to determine their risk for conditions such as prostate cancer and hypertension may not have gotten their money’s worth.
After conducting investigations into several companies’ direct-to-consumer genetic tests, the US Government Accountability Office discovered that many of the companies made medically unproven predictions.
The report also discovered that the same DNA produced different test results across the companies that offered these products, undermining their credibility even further.
As if that weren’t enough, the GAO found “ten egregious examples of deceptive marketing,” including two companies that claimed to be able to predict which sports children would be best at based on their DNA. Another company was accused of using phony endorsements from well-known athletes in its sales efforts.
Overall, it is in the best interests of consumers to know if they are at a higher risk for preexisting conditions, which could lead to serious medical problems and higher health and life insurance premiums.