Regulation of Internet-based Genetic Testing: Challenges for Australia and Other Jurisdictions

Frontiers in Public Health
Jane Tiller, Paul Lacaze

Abstract

The Internet currently enables unprecedented ease of access for direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing, with saliva collection kits posted directly to consumer homes from anywhere in the world. This poses new challenges for local jurisdictions in regulating genetic testing, traditionally a tightly-regulated industry. Some Internet-based genetic tests have the capacity to cause significant confusion or harm to consumers who are unaware of the risks or potential variability in quality. The emergence of some online products of questionable content, unsupported by adequate scientific evidence, is a cause for concern. Proliferation of such products in the absence of regulation has the potential to damage public trust in accredited and established clinical genetic testing during a critical period of evidence generation for genomics. Here, we explore the challenges arising from the emergence of Internet-based DTC genetic testing. In particular, there are challenges in regulating unaccredited or potentially harmful Internet-based DTC genetic testing products. In Australia, challenges exist for the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which oversees regulation of the genetic testing sector. Concerns and challenges faced in Australia are ...Continue Reading

References

Aug 2, 2007·International Journal of Health Services : Planning, Administration, Evaluation·Isaac D Montoya, Elda Jano
Jul 8, 2011·Public Health Genomics·E V SyurinaA Brand
Feb 10, 2012·European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG·Gemma R BrettJane L Halliday
Mar 2, 2013·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Belen HurleVence L Bonham
Apr 13, 2013·Progress in Neurobiology·S GauthierP Rosa-Neto
Aug 8, 2013·European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG·Wolf H RogowskiGeorg Marckmann
Mar 6, 2015·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Sue RichardsUNKNOWN ACMG Laboratory Quality Assurance Committee
Aug 28, 2015·Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers·Muhammad RafiqStefania Boccia
Dec 19, 2015·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Loredana CovoloUmberto Gelatti
Mar 2, 2016·Annals of Internal Medicine·Cathelijne H van der WoudenUNKNOWN Impact of Personal Genomics Study Group
Apr 6, 2016·Applied & Translational Genomics·Emilia Niemiec, Heidi Carmen Howard
Sep 23, 2016·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Linnea I LaestadiusPaul L Auer
Oct 6, 2016·Journal of Genetic Counseling·Brianne E Kirkpatrick, Misha D Rashkin
Mar 9, 2017·European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG·Nathalie MorayMaarten Hd Larmuseau
Jan 1, 2015·The New Bioethics : a Multidisciplinary Journal of Biotechnology and the Body·Heike Felzmann
May 17, 2018·Personalized Medicine·Anna MiddletonHeidi Carmen Howard

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 21, 2020·The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics : a Journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics·Ma'n H ZawatiJames W Hazel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Canadian Pharmacists Journal : CPJ = Revue Des Pharmaciens Du Canada : RPC
Anne Massicotte
Revista de derecho y genoma humano = Law and the human genome review
Rachèl van HellemondtMartijn Breuning
European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG
David Gurwitz, Yael Bregman-Eschet
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved