With Congress poised to eliminate a big barrier to genetic testing for risk of certain diseases, consumers still face challenges in figuring out which ones offer useful information.
Despite heavy marketing by some genetic-test makers, the wide use of genetic tests has been held back by a variety of factors, including questions about the tests' usefulness and concerns that results could be used by employers and insurers to discriminate against people. Critics argue that many tests can't accurately identify which people are at risk for various illnesses.
WUSTL medical researcher Brian Gage comments.
Includes Web links to learn more about genetic testing.

References:

1. May 1, 2008 — Which Genetic Tests are Really Worth Getting? in the The Wall Street Journal

Federal health officials are stopping short of recommending genetic tests for patients on the blood-thinner warfarin, even though they have said such screenings could prevent thousands of complications each year.
Warfarin became the first widely used drug to include genetic testing information on its label. The information can help doctors determine how best to prescribe the drug.
The FDA said this means personalized medicine is no longer an abstract concept but has moved into the mainstream.
"What we need to do is find out whether genetic testing improves outcomes," said WUSTL medical researcher Brian Gage.

References:

1. Aug. 16, 2007 — FDA notes role genetic testing can play in safer use of blood thinner in the Associated Press

and 65 others.

A case featuring a St. Louis woman and the powerful blood thinner called warfarin shows the advances in personalized medicine, where treatment is tailored to an individual's genetic makeup. But, in a possible harbinger of battles to come, the warfarin tests have also led to a clash between the FDA and some doctors. WUSTL medical researcher Brian Gage comments.

References:

1. Aug. 16, 2007 — In milestone, FDA pushes genetic tests tied to drug in the The Wall Street Journal

It's the nation's most troublesome lifesaver. Every day, 2 million Americans swallow a blood thinner called warfarin that puts them on a tightrope: Too little, and they won't be protected from lethal blood clots. Too much, and they can bleed to death. Article looks at an FDA study to see if testing new patients' genes will dramatically reduce side effects during the critical first weeks of therapy.
WUSTL scientist Brian Gage, who is leading a pilot study of the gene testing for the NIH, comments.

References:

1. Sept. 4, 2006 — Study seeks safer blood thinner used by millions of Americans in the Associated Press

and 9 others.