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<span>What is direct-to-consumer genetic testing?</span>
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<h1>What is direct-to-consumer genetic testing?</h1>
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<section><div class="mp-content"><p>Most of the time, genetic testing is done through healthcare providers such as physicians, nurse practitioners, or genetic counselors. Healthcare providers determine which test is needed, order the test from a laboratory, collect  the DNA sample, send the DNA sample to the lab for testing and interpretation, and share the results with the patient. Often, a health insurance company covers part or all of the cost of testing. This type of testing is known as clinical genetic testing.</p>
<p>Direct-to-consumer genetic testing is different: these genetic tests are marketed directly to customers via television, radio, print advertisements, or the Internet, and the tests can be bought online or in stores. After purchasing a test kit, customers send the company a DNA sample and receive their results directly from a secure website or app or in a written report. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing provides people access to their genetic information without necessarily involving a healthcare provider or health insurance company in the process.</p>
<p>Many companies currently offer direct-to-consumer genetic tests for a variety of purposes. The most popular tests use a limited set of genetic variations to make predictions about a certain aspects of health, provide information about common traits, and offer clues about a persons ancestry. The number of companies providing direct-to-consumer genetic testing is growing, along with the range of health information provided by these tests. Because there is currently little regulation of direct-to-consumer genetic testing services, it is important to assess the quality of available services before pursuing any testing.</p>
<p>Other names for direct-to-consumer genetic testing include DTC genetic testing, direct-access genetic testing, at-home genetic testing, and home DNA testing. <a data-pid="20257" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/ancestrytesting/">Ancestry testing</a> (also called genealogy testing) is also considered a form of direct-to-consumer genetic testing.</p></div>
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<section><div class="side-section"><div class="mp-content"><div class="section-header long-header">
<h2>For more information about direct-to-consumer genetic testing:</h2>
</div>
<div class="section-body"><p>National Human Genome Research Institute: <a href="https://www.genome.gov/dna-day/15-ways/direct-to-consumer-genomic-testing" target="_blank">Direct-to-Consumer Genomic Testing</a> <span class="desc-text"><img alt="From the National Institutes of Health" class="imgdesc" height="16" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" title="From the National Institutes of Health" width="25"/></span>
</p>
<p>National Society of Genetic Counselors: <a href="https://www.aboutgeneticcounselors.org/Reasons-to-See-a-Genetic-Counselor/At-Home-Genetic-Testing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">What is At-Home Genetic Testing?</a>
</p>
<p>American Medical Association: <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/precision-medicine/direct-consumer-genetic-testing" target="_blank">Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing</a>
</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins Medicine: <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/five-things-to-know-about-direct-to-consumer-genetic-tests" target="_blank">Five Things to Know about Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests</a>
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<section><div class="mp-exp mp-content"><h2>Topics in the Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing chapter</h2><ul><li>What is direct-to-consumer genetic testing?</li><li><a data-pid="20255" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtctesttypes/">What kinds of direct-to-consumer genetic tests are available?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20257" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/ancestrytesting/">What is genetic ancestry testing?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20259" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcrisksbenefits/">What are the benefits and risks of direct-to-consumer genetic testing?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20261" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcchoosing/">How do I choose a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20263" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcprocess/">How is direct-to-consumer genetic testing done?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20265" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtccost/">How much does direct-to-consumer genetic testing cost, and is it covered by health insurance?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20267" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcresults/">What do the results of direct-to-consumer genetic testing mean?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20269" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcrawdata/">What can raw data from a direct-to-consumer genetic test tell me?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20271" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtccancer/">Can a direct-to-consumer genetic test tell me whether I will develop cancer?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20273" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcalzheimer/">Can a direct-to-consumer genetic test tell me whether I will develop Alzheimer's disease?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20275" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/neanderthaldna/">What does it mean to have Neanderthal or Denisovan DNA?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20277" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcprivacy/">How do direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies protect their customers privacy?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20279" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcinsurancerisk/">Can the results of direct-to-consumer genetic testing affect my ability to get insurance?</a></li><li><a data-pid="20281" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcghrpages/">Where can I read more about the diseases and traits covered in my direct-to-consumer genetic testing report?</a></li></ul><p><a data-pid="20081" href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/">Other chapters in Help Me Understand Genetics</a></p></div>
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