Blum Center Program: Direct-to-Consumer and Consumer-Initiated Genetic Testing

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) and consumer-initiated genetic tests are tests that can provide you with the opportunity to learn more about your genetic ancestry and connect with relatives, to explore your physical traits and preferences, and even to better understand your inherited risk to develop diseases. In this presentation from February 23, 2021, genetic counselors from the MGH Preventive Genomics Clinic, Renée Pelletier and Deanna Brockman, share the advantages and limitations of DTC and consumer-initiated genetic tests. They also review the general history and current state of DTC and consumer-initiated genetic tests, explore resources for additional information and professional support, and discuss the MGH Preventive Genomics Clinic – a new clinic which aims to empower patients to better understand, predict, and prevent disease using genetic information.