DNA testing goes online
Australians are being encouraged to discover “your own genome” with the introduction by a Sydney company, Lumigenix, of an international online DNA testing service for genetic risks to a wide range of common diseases.
A person’s genome can be scanned through the tests and can identify more than 150 conditions including melanoma, bipolar disorder, lung cancer, and obesity. The company is marketing its online service globally but focusing primarily on the United States market.
The company’s chief executive, Romain Bonjean, said that genetic information was a keystone to personalised healthcare and could empower people to make better and healthier lifestyle choices. The direct-to-consumer tests involve individuals buying a kit, posting off a saliva sample, and receiving results online.
The chairman of the National Health and Medical Research Council’s human genetic advisory committee, Ron Trent, said that genetic testing still needed appropriate counselling.
“A genetic test involves sitting down with a health professional who can tell you what the results mean for you and your family,” he said.
