Direct-to-consumer genetic testing brands like 23andMe are FDA approved, but that doesn’t mean you should use them. If you’re attempting to use these tests to determine your cancer risk, you may want to seek the expertise of a genetic counsel instead.
“The results for something like a BRCA mutation are not actionable unless that test has been reconfirmed in an approved lab,” says Dr. Freya Schnabel, Director of Breast Surgery at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center. Dr. Schnabel also points out that even if you get a 23andMe test back and it says you’re clear of indicators like a BRCA mutation, that doesn’t mean you won’t get breast cancer. Popular direct-to-consumer genetic tests do not test for all potential cancer risks.
Read More