23andMe Gene Test Banned by FDA Is Now Available in the U.K.

A little more than year ago, the genotype
screening test offered to consumers by 23andMe was banned by the
FDA on
wholly specious grounds. As a long-time customer I was happy to
get some test results indicating some genetic disease risks and
possible reactions to medications. For example, my 23andMe results
tell me that I have gene variants that suggest that I have an
elevated risk for Type 1 diabetes and that I am at lower risk for
Alzheimer’s disease. Also, some variants suggest that I am a rapid
metabolizer of proton pump inhibitors used to treat heart burn.

As it happens I am not at all diabetic (with rock solid glucose
test results to prove it). I also did not suffer heart palpitations
upon learning that I carry alleles that indicate a higher risk for
developing atrial fibrillation.

In its banning letter, the FDA cited not a single example of
harm stemming from 23andMe’s tests.

Now the company is evidently being permitted to sell its
services and offer its health risks test results to the good folk
of Great Britain. From the
Guardian:

Genetic testing company 23andMe is launching its personal genome
service in the UK after it was banned in the US.

The service allows people to send their saliva in a testing kit
to have their DNA screened for genes associated with certain
inherited conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell
anaemia, and other genetic markers relating to parts of their lives
and ancestry.

“We can take complicated genetic information and distill it in
language that people can actually understand,” the 23andMe chief
executive Anne Wojcicki said.

“The genome is fascinating, and it’s the most exciting
scientific revolution of our lifetime. The goal is to keep people
engaged with their own genome, so that they know what it means for
them and then keep them abreast of the scientific discoveries as
they unfold.”

The spit kits cost £125 and are sent to the Netherlands before
testing in the US. The results, which take approximately six to
eight weeks, allow users to both browse the raw code of their
genome and use tools to investigate their genetic makeup.

Will some Americans try buying the service from the U.K.
now?

In any case, 23andMe will still send you the raw results of your
tests that can then be loaded into Promethease for
$5 and the system will put together a pretty readable personal DNA
report based on the scientific literature cited in SNPedia.

In fact, if you are having a lazy afternoon, click on over to
SNPedia where I have put my gene testing
results up for anyone to browse through.

Reason is your voice in debates about politics,
culture, and ideas. Our annual Webathon is underway and your
tax-deductible gift will help us fight against big government,
crony capitalism, the drug war, and so much more. For details
on giving levels and swag, go
here now.