Commercial DNA tests promise consumers help with their health, but fail to deliver. Moreover, the providers are careless with the privacy of their customers. So concludes the Consumers' Association, which investigated 8 tests.
Of the eight tests the researchers looked at, only the paternity tests from DDC-Diagnostics and Consanguinitas do what they promise. These tests use a scientifically sound number of DNA matches to determine whether a person is the father of a child.
The other tests tell users about their ancestry, or put them in touch with distant relatives through DNA matching. Four of the tests also report the risk of diseases. In doing so, the providers make big promises. For example, that they make their customers stronger, personalized exercise advice , a longer life through more knowledge about genes or personalized health reports. They do not, or only partially, deliver on those promises. The test results appear to go no further than estimating the likelihood of some common diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes. And that chance is also based on a small portion of DNA. The accompanying advice goes no further than some general tips, lacking important interpretation from a physician.
The researchers also subjected the test to the Consumer Association's Privacy Meter. And on that front, too, quite a bit proved wrong. iGene, for example, claims to share DNA profiles anonymously with third parties. But DNA is unique and therefore never anonymous. And FamilyTreeDNA routinely shares customers' DNA with investigative agencies. Also, all websites of the providers placed advertising cookies without asking (clear) permission from the visitor.
Sandra Molenaar, director of Consumentenbond, advises consumers to be cautious about using commercial DNA tests. 'For your health, such a test is of no use to you. It can be useful if you want certainty about your kinship, but realize that you are giving away DNA. There is nothing more personal. We think the trade in personal data already goes too far; the trade in DNA is one step further. And here too we see that companies do not comply with privacy rules.'
The Consumers' Association has brought the results of the investigation to the attention of the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens and to the various providers. iGene promises from now on to ask for permission before sharing DNA profiles. And the company's website now properly asks for permission before placing cookies.
