Content Analysis of Informed Consent for Whole Genome Sequencing Offered by Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Companies
(2016) In Human Mutation 37(12). p.1248-1256- Abstract
Whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) have become increasingly available in the research and clinical settings and are now also being offered by direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing (GT) companies. This offer can be perceived as amplifying the already identified concerns regarding adequacy of informed consent (IC) for both WES/WGS and the DTC GT context. We performed a qualitative content analysis of Websites of four companies offering WES/WGS DTC regarding the following elements of IC: pre-test counseling, benefits and risks, and incidental findings (IFs). The analysis revealed concerns, including the potential lack of pre-test counseling in three of the companies studied, missing relevant information in... (More)
Whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) have become increasingly available in the research and clinical settings and are now also being offered by direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing (GT) companies. This offer can be perceived as amplifying the already identified concerns regarding adequacy of informed consent (IC) for both WES/WGS and the DTC GT context. We performed a qualitative content analysis of Websites of four companies offering WES/WGS DTC regarding the following elements of IC: pre-test counseling, benefits and risks, and incidental findings (IFs). The analysis revealed concerns, including the potential lack of pre-test counseling in three of the companies studied, missing relevant information in the risks and benefits sections, and potentially misleading information for consumers. Regarding IFs, only one company, which provides opportunistic screening, provides basic information about their management. In conclusion, some of the information (and related practices) present on the companies’ Web pages salient to the consent process are not adequate in reference to recommendations for IC for WGS or WES in the clinical context. Requisite resources should be allocated to ensure that commercial companies are offering high-throughput sequencing under responsible conditions, including an adequate consent process.
(Less)
- author
- Niemiec, Emilia LU ; Borry, Pascal ; Pinxten, Wim and Howard, Heidi Carmen LU
- publishing date
- 2016-12-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- consumer genomics, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, informed consent, whole exome sequencing, whole genome sequencing
- in
- Human Mutation
- volume
- 37
- issue
- 12
- pages
- 9 pages
- publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:27647801
- scopus:84990847986
- ISSN
- 1059-7794
- DOI
- 10.1002/humu.23122
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 2762acd2-cc08-4930-ba0c-49be79279a73
- date added to LUP
- 2020-11-17 17:26:16
- date last changed
- 2024-04-03 16:31:47
@article{2762acd2-cc08-4930-ba0c-49be79279a73, abstract = {{<p>Whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) have become increasingly available in the research and clinical settings and are now also being offered by direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing (GT) companies. This offer can be perceived as amplifying the already identified concerns regarding adequacy of informed consent (IC) for both WES/WGS and the DTC GT context. We performed a qualitative content analysis of Websites of four companies offering WES/WGS DTC regarding the following elements of IC: pre-test counseling, benefits and risks, and incidental findings (IFs). The analysis revealed concerns, including the potential lack of pre-test counseling in three of the companies studied, missing relevant information in the risks and benefits sections, and potentially misleading information for consumers. Regarding IFs, only one company, which provides opportunistic screening, provides basic information about their management. In conclusion, some of the information (and related practices) present on the companies’ Web pages salient to the consent process are not adequate in reference to recommendations for IC for WGS or WES in the clinical context. Requisite resources should be allocated to ensure that commercial companies are offering high-throughput sequencing under responsible conditions, including an adequate consent process.</p>}}, author = {{Niemiec, Emilia and Borry, Pascal and Pinxten, Wim and Howard, Heidi Carmen}}, issn = {{1059-7794}}, keywords = {{consumer genomics; direct-to-consumer genetic testing; informed consent; whole exome sequencing; whole genome sequencing}}, language = {{eng}}, month = {{12}}, number = {{12}}, pages = {{1248--1256}}, publisher = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}}, series = {{Human Mutation}}, title = {{Content Analysis of Informed Consent for Whole Genome Sequencing Offered by Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Companies}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/humu.23122}}, doi = {{10.1002/humu.23122}}, volume = {{37}}, year = {{2016}}, }