Genequest, a DNA testing spin-out of the University of Tokyo, is about to open its doors to the general public.
For a fee of $493, customers will be able to submit saliva swabs for DNA testing, with an eye to identify genetic risks, such as the likelihood of cancer, diabetes, or other diseases. The tests will also be able to identify markers for conditions such as male pattern baldness, and results will be returned to the customer within a month via email.
Consumer-focused DNA testing has come under fire recently, after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US ordered Google-backed DNA testing firm 23andMe, the largest such firm in the US, to halt DNA tests. The decision came after the FDA said that the results could lead customers into undergoing unnecessary medical procedures.
Genequest said it will look to avoid disclosing DNA analysis which could lead customers to pursue such treatments. Fumio Takada, a professor of clinical genetics at Kitasato University, said that there were still obstacles to overcome before such DNA testing proves useful.
He said: “Giving the test results online could lead to misunderstandings of the results by clients. Moreover, providers of the service haven’t set up a mechanism to address the anxiety that clients will undergo once their DNA results and the risks that are present are conveyed.”
