Bipolar Home Tests Worry Health Experts

It appears that you can now buy your own online test for a host of genetic health conditions, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and bipolar disorder. There have been more than 1,000 tests that have exploded onto the market in the last few years, worrying health experts who fear that these products aren’t up to government standards. They are also worried that these at-home genetic tests will prey on the deepest fears of consumers, without giving them the full picture. A false negative can be as dangerous as a false positive.

Psynomics, the La-Jolla based company offering bipolar tests, is offering one of the first psychiatric tests on the market for a mere $399, much cheaper than tests at a doctor’s office. The test is based on gene mutations related to bipolar disease found in the studies of Dr. John Kelsoe. Although Psynomics is selling these tests online, they still state that is should be used only as a diagnostic tool for those currently showing symptoms. They also state that it does not claim to be able to predict a person’s risk for developing the disease.

To take the test, comsumers spit into a plastic cup, seal it and then send it back to Psynomics. They analyze the DNA and send a report to their specific doctors, avoiding self-diagnosis.

The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these tests for accuracy and the American Psychiatric Association has not created an official policy for at-home genetic testing.










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