The Food and Drug Administration of US, gave its permission to a “23andMe test”, which monitors for a few ovarian and breast cancer genes, but that approval came with a multiple number of cautions and admonitions. It is explained as the first direct-to-consumer test by the FDA to be reported on the three particular BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations those are seen mostly on the people of Eastern European, or Ashkenazi, Jewish decent. Mutations on these specific genes increase the risk of ovarian or breast cancer of a person. However, the test discerns only of over 1,000 known mutations.
The acting director of the In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health’s Office in the Center of FDA for Devices and Radiological Health; Donald St. Pierre, told that whilst the detection on this test of a BRCA mutation does points out an increased risk, only a minimum percentage of Americans carry out one of these three mutations and majority of the BRCA mutations, which increase the risk of an individual are not spotted b this test, as o the announcement by the FDA.
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Anne Wojcicki, the co-founder of 23andMe; called this approval a significant milestone is the empowerment of consumer health, debating that while individuals frequently participate in runs and tie pink ribbons for raising awareness of breast cancer, many such women those who have a bigger risk variant in the BRCA2 or BRCA1 genes remain unenlightened of their increased genetic risk for ovarian and breast cancer till a diagnosis is done to them by the doctor with the cancer, and that’s a non-success.
Currently past president of the National Society of Genetic, Mary Freivogel; told that the counselors can contextualize about the significance of genetic risk to one and can help one in understanding what to do with that information. The society proposes a website where users can enter their ZIP code for finding a local expert. Further she even stated that she holds reservations of the news from the FDA, and that she has been encouraged by the careful reporting on the test of 23andMe. But this thing is valid only for people, those who are specifically in the Jewish population and it covers only a small amount of people.
Carolyn is a technology graduate and loves to write about anything related to technology as well as writes in others sectors. Carolyn is a professional writer with over 7 years of experience. Initially starting off as a programmer, Carolyn decided to combine her knowledge about technology and writing and that’s how she joined Reporter Expert.