Walgreens to sell genetic test kits
Walgreens is now going to be selling over the counter genetic tests soon. The well known pharmacy chain already offers over the counter drug testing and paternity testing kits, so this really does not come as a big surprise to many. The company that will be offering these over the counter kits later this month is Pathway Genomics. Walgreens will charge between twenty and thirty dollars each for the testing kits.
The test kits will test for various medical issues such as reactions to certain medications, genes for Alzheimer’s disease, and any instances of being predisposed to certain diseases. The kit includes a saliva collection kit and people swab their mouths and then send the kit in a postage paid envelope to Pathway Genomics. The company then lets consumers purchase certain genetic tests online via their website. Each genetic test that is conducted costs around seventy nine dollars.
One issue that may arise is what consumers will do based on the results of their private genetic test results. For example, if a woman finds out that she may have a genetic issue that may cause issues with a pregnancy then she might not try to have a baby. The results are tentative and need to be discussed with a doctor before taking any immediate action. This kind of testing can be a double edged sword and some states including New York have stated that this type of consumer testing is illegal. Walgreens cannot sell the tests in New York at all. If people are concerned about any genetic issues that may arise then they can use the kit but should also consult a doctor for a second opinion based on the results. 
Why doesn’t anyone mention that these whole “send away” kits are a way to data mine genetic information and tie it to an identity/credit card.
When they provide anonymous develop at home kits then they might be useful. But giving a misc company the right to store your info in a database and pay them $30 to do so is crazy. Maybe Facebook should start selling these too… sigh.