GPs are advised to ignore genetic test results that have no clinical basis

GPs should “not take at face value, or attempt to interpret” reports from direct to consumer (DTC) genetic tests, according to the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).1

In an official position statement, the college warned that there is a “very high chance of false positive or false negative results” from DTC genetic tests and “significant NHS costs in confirming (or more often refuting)” the results.

DTC genetic tests have become popular in the UK in recent years as the technology …