NEWS
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero
Facebook Violates Trust of Private Patient Groups
Thousands of women who carry mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 and joined 'private' Facebook groups recently learned that their groups were vulnerable to a Chrome plug-in that allowed marketers to discover group members' names and other private health...
If I’m Adopted, Should I Have DNA Testing?
As a certified genetic counselor, one of the most common questions I'm asked is whether people who are adopted should have DNA testing through a direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing company. I've found that the reasons adoptees, or the parents of adoptees, want DNA...
How Your Genetic Data Could Be Shared Without Your Consent
As a genetic counselor, it is always challenging to tell the patient sitting in front of you that she carries a genetic mutation (or a pathogenic variant, as it is now called) that could negatively impact her health. But perhaps more challenging, is telling the person...
How Accurate Is Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing? From Gold(ish) to Garbage
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing is exactly what the name implies: a test sold directly to the consumer, without the help of a healthcare professional. You can pick up a kit online, at the drugstore, or even at the dollar store (!) that you can use to determine if you...
The Atlantic Highlights My Gene Counsel
In the article, "Can Genetic Counselors Keep Up With 23andMe?" The Atlantic quotes fellow genetic counselors about how our profession can help consumers understand genetic testing. This article also highlights our upcoming product launch, "Start-ups have emerged to...
Why the Golden State Case Kept This Genetic Counselor Up All Night
DNA saved the day this week, bringing the long sought-after Golden State Killer to justice. After decades of evading arrest, the serial murderer and rapist was tracked down through genealogy testing. Genetic victory, right? So why my insomnia? Lying in bed, my...
Healthcare Providers Can’t Afford to Ignore Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
The DTC genetic testing revolution is here. More than 12 million people have had testing via an at-home spit kit and the numbers are skyrocketing. People have their own raw genetic data in hand, are curious, and are searching for answers in their DNA. It is safe to...
Matloff Chosen to Launch First Genetic Counselor Awareness Day
We are pleased to announce that Ellen Matloff, our President and CEO, has been chosen by the National Society of Genetic Counseling (NSGC) to launch the first Genetic Counselor Awareness Day on November 9, 2017 as a webinar speaker. The goal of the day is to empower...
Mixed Reviews of At-Home Genetic Testing
National guidelines recommend that patients meet with a genetics expert before undergoing genetic testing for cancer risk. Genetic counseling can help patients decide whether genetic testing is right for them and order the most appropriate test. Once test results are...