Some doctors still cautious of genetic tests
Experts warn some results may not be useful — and others are ‘rubbish’.
WASHINGTON – Everyone’s genes spell out a risk for some disease, and a coming anti-discrimination lawis about to give genetic testing a boost.
But discrimination is just one hurdle. The bigger quandary: Doctors don’t yet know how many of the genetic tests being pushed for dozens of conditions are truly useful — and how many are misleading at best.
“Some of these tests are complete rubbish,” warns Dr. Howard McLeod, a personalized medicine specialist at the University of North Carolina. “The big challenge for a consumer is figuring out which data is real or not without having to go to medical school.”