Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:42 pm Posts: 17495 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Gender: Male
Will you do it?
Quote:
Soon, your pharmacy shopping list could include a bottle of soda, a candy bar, and a personal genetic testing kit.
Exactly what aisle category does the latter fall into?
Starting Friday, Walgreens shoppers can buy an over-the-counter genetics test from Pathway Genomics at 7,500 stores across the country. Priced at $20 to $30, the kit claims to offer information on users' possibility of developing conditions like Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, or diabetes.
Access to the scientific analysis online, however, costs another $79 to $179, according to Chicago Breaking Business. Researchers are cautioning consumers, saying the genetic testing is incomplete. Several other factors, like lifestyle and environment, need to be evaluated when diagnosing an illness.
For example, if you don't have a gene linked to diabetes, that doesn't mean you won't have problems if you habitually have sugary snacks for breakfast.
Genetic testing isn't new. Several online companies have offered the service since 2007 for a few hundred dollars.
But placing the kit next to the magazine rack or deodorant section at Walgreens opens the genetic door to a much broader audience, including those who don't fully understand genomic science and how it works.
"Pathway's test does come with a comprehensive, easy-to-read, accurate packet of information about how the testing works and what important information it leaves out," says Mary Carmichael of Newsweek's blog, The Human Condition. "But, of course, few people are going to read that packet before peeking at their genetic risk profiles."
Pathway Genomics CEO Jim Plante believes that one shouldn't have to be scientifically-inclined or financially-fortunate in order to have access to "critical" genetic information.
"The value of knowing how genes play a role in our personal lives, and potentially the lives of our children, is critical for making well-informed health and wellness decisions," he said in a press release.
Walgreen Co. reversed a decision to carry genetic test kits in its stores after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began looking into the supplier.
The Deerfield-based drugstore had planned to begin stocking its shelves with the Pathway Genomics home test kit on Friday, as reported by the Tribune yesterday. Walgreens' decision was announced within hours after the FDA released an enforcement letter sent to San Diego-based Pathway giving it 15 days to respond to the agency's request for information regarding its controversial genetic home test kit.
"In light of the FDA contacting Pathway Genomics about its genetic test kit and anticipated ongoing discussions between the two parties, we've elected not to move forward with offering the Pathway product to our customers until we have further clarity on this matter," Jim Cohn, a Walgreens spokesman, said late Wednesday.
In a letter dated May 10 and released this evening, FDA Deputy Director for Patient Safety and Product Quality James Woods said the agency has been "unable to identify any Food and Drug Administration clearance or approval number" for the product.
The kit, sold under the brand name Insight, comes with a vial and a shipping envelope. Buyers send a sample of their saliva to a Pathway Genomics laboratory, and receive their genetic health report online for a fee.
"If you do not believe that you are required to obtain FDA clearance or approval for the Genetic Health Report, please provide us for the basis for the determination," Wood said in his letter to Pathway Genomics.
Pathway was scheduled to start selling its genetic home test kit at Walgreens drugstores Friday and CVS stores in August. The home tests claim to assess the risk of dozens of health conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer and heart disease. But some scientists and physicians worry consumers will misuse or misunderstand the results of the tests.
Pathway officials have said they believe the test is in compliance federal regulations.
"Pathway works very diligently to ensure that our business is compliant with all applicable regulations and guidelines," Pathway said in a statement issued Wednesday in response to the FDA's inquiry. "Our laboratory is federally CLIA-certified and state-licensed. We have provided the same personal genetic report to customers for the past year, and are continuing discussions with the FDA about the regulation of personal genomic information."
Post subject: Re: Walgreens to sell genetic test kit
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 2:27 am
too drunk to moderate properly
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Meh. I wouldn't have done it anyhow. Life happens, just live it. Why worry about a chronic or deadly disease that you may or may not get?
I don't see why people shouldn't be allowed to do it though. If people wanna know shit, people outta be able to know shit.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Post subject: Re: Walgreens to sell genetic test kit
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 1:36 pm
In a van down by the river
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 6:15 am Posts: 33031
when i first saw this on tv a few days ago, i thought it would be geared more towards finding out what you and your potential mate would produce as far as offspring and what birth defects they may have
Post subject: Re: Walgreens to sell genetic test kit
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 1:36 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2004 12:47 pm Posts: 9282 Location: Atlanta Gender: Male
Peeps wrote:
when i first saw this on tv a few days ago, i thought it would be geared more towards finding out what you and your potential mate would produce as far as offspring and what birth defects they may have
But then what would Mauri Povich do?
I guess it would be good to know ahead of time whether to expect something like Cystic Fibrosis or something like that.
Post subject: Re: Walgreens to sell genetic test kit
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 2:05 pm
too drunk to moderate properly
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Peeps wrote:
when i first saw this on tv a few days ago, i thought it would be geared more towards finding out what you and your potential mate would produce as far as offspring and what birth defects they may have
Yeah, I heard that as a use as well. I see no problem with that. Maybe more people will decide against having kids and adopt instead.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Post subject: Re: Walgreens to sell genetic test kit
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 4:45 pm
Got Some
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:52 pm Posts: 2647 Location: Where gila monsters meet you at the airport
I generally agree that you're entitled to information if you want it, but I worry about the quality of the info and the ramifications here.
We all basically agreed during the health care debate that we spend too much money in health care by running every test and making sure that the cough, which is probably just a cold, isn't some one in a billion disease. This kind of test can only further those issues. Would you want to be a physician and have your patient come in with their Walgreens test kit saying, "You have to help me, this thing says I might get Alzheimers"?
Post subject: Re: Walgreens to sell genetic test kit
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 5:45 pm
too drunk to moderate properly
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
mray10 wrote:
I generally agree that you're entitled to information if you want it, but I worry about the quality of the info and the ramifications here.
We all basically agreed during the health care debate that we spend too much money in health care by running every test and making sure that the cough, which is probably just a cold, isn't some one in a billion disease. This kind of test can only further those issues. Would you want to be a physician and have your patient come in with their Walgreens test kit saying, "You have to help me, this thing says I might get Alzheimers"?
Yeah, but you'll get that even without the device. My grandmother has been wiped out by Alzheimer's. I could easily march into my doctor and say the same thing.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Post subject: Re: Walgreens to sell genetic test kit
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 6:55 pm
too drunk to moderate properly
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Peeps wrote:
b, just because you forget how to make a good post doesnt mean you have alzheimers
What post?
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
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