The Government Accountability Office has dismissed home DNA tests that are designed to give consumers nutritional and health information based on their specific DNA. The GAO concluded that the tests have no medical value.
'I want to send a message to consumers across the country: Buyer beware,' said Gregory Kurtz, who led an GAO's investigation into the product.
The kits cost between $99 and $1,000. Consumers send back a swab of their DNA to have it analyzed and include details about their lifestyle. The kits are supposed to give people medical advise based on their specific genetic needs.
The GAO sent in 14 different kits all with DNA from the Kurtz's infant daughter and a male employee of the GAO. The advice differed greatly on the 14 submitted forms but most of it was very general such as 'Don't smoke' and improve your diet or risk heart disease.
One company encouraged a client to buy a supplement it claimed could 'repair' their DNA. The cost: $1,880 per year.
The GAO acknowledged that there is no way to 'repair' damaged DNA.
The FDA will examine whether or not the sellers of these products have violated any regulatory requirements. The manufacturers say they are providing a useful service to consumers and have not done anything wrong.
