Genetic testing benefits

Before a genetic test can be generally accepted in clinical practice, data must be collected to demonstrate the benefits and risks that accrue from both positive and negative results" (Holtzman and Watson, 1998, p. 29). 

This section presents information on the benefits, costs, risks, and limitations of genetic testing. 

Genetic testing is voluntary. Because testing has both benefits and limitations, the decision about whether to be tested is a personal and complex one. A genetic counselor can help by providing information about the pros and cons of the test and discussing the social and emotional aspects of testing. 

Before a person has a genetic test, it is important that he or she understands the testing procedure, the benefits and limitations of the test, and the possible consequences of the test results. The process of educating a person about the test and obtaining permission is called informed consent. 

A genetics professional can explain in detail the benefits, risks, and limitations of a particular test. It is important that any person who is considering genetic testing understand and weigh these factors before making a decision. 

It is important for people considering genetic testing to know whether the test is available on a clinical or research basis. Clinical and research testing both involve a process of informed consent in which patients learn about the testing procedure, the risks and benefits of the test, and the potential consequences of testing. 

Despite the general enthusiasm and belief that pharmacogenomics will benefit drug therapy, the eventual decision to use genetic testing in the clinic may bear in part on cost-effectiveness analyses (102,103). This is not an unrealistic assumption because many of the newer therapies customized... 

Twenty years ago, a classic study demonstrated that 30% of treatment-refractory patients who did not respond to other antipsychotics responded to clozapine [73]. Meta-analyses have consistently demonstrated that clozapine may be the most efficacious antipsychotic [74]. The development of a genetic test that would predict the likelihood of response to clozapine would increase the number of patients who could benefit from this drug at an earlier stage. 

A number of ethical concerns have been raised in the past. In general, genetic testing only makes sense if a clear benefit for the patient can be achieved and outweighs possible misuse of genetic information. But even then, problems of disadvantages and discrimination arise. Patient groups may be identified by health insurance companies as difficult or expensive to treat, and could be excluded from cover-... 

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