{"title":"A survey of direct-to-consumer genetic testing of small animals in European laboratories.","authors":"L Adant, V Szymczak, L Peelman, B J G Broeckx","doi":"10.1111/jsap.70019","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>While direct-to-consumer genetic tests are widely used in veterinary medicine, claims regarding communication and counselling issues have not been investigated so far. Our aim was to evaluate the communication channels encountered by clients when direct-to-consumer genetic tests are ordered, as well as access to genetic counselling to investigate whether these concerns are justified.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Checklists, email inquiries and direct-to-consumer genetic test kits were used to survey access to pre- and post-test counselling, as well as adherence to quality standards and guidelines of the website and test reports from 11 laboratories, spread across mainland Europe and the United Kingdom.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Laboratories scored between 50% and 80% on a quality check of their websites using published standards. Prior to ordering genetic tests, counselling requests response rates were 69%, with most replies received within one business day. Genetic test report quality scores ranged between 67% and 78% for the administrative part and 67% to 100% for the test-related part. Seventy-five per cent of laboratories provided post-test counselling. Marked differences in genetic test recommendations were observed within and between laboratories for both Border Collies and Maine Coons, and this was not linked to geographical location, patents, or allele frequency.</p><p><strong>Clinical significance: </strong>The highly variable quality of websites and reports, access to counselling and recommendations on which genetic tests to use can have serious consequences for animal health and welfare. This substantiates the concerns expressed in the scarce veterinary literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":17062,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Small Animal Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Small Animal Practice","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.70019","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"VETERINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: While direct-to-consumer genetic tests are widely used in veterinary medicine, claims regarding communication and counselling issues have not been investigated so far. Our aim was to evaluate the communication channels encountered by clients when direct-to-consumer genetic tests are ordered, as well as access to genetic counselling to investigate whether these concerns are justified.
Materials and methods: Checklists, email inquiries and direct-to-consumer genetic test kits were used to survey access to pre- and post-test counselling, as well as adherence to quality standards and guidelines of the website and test reports from 11 laboratories, spread across mainland Europe and the United Kingdom.
Results: Laboratories scored between 50% and 80% on a quality check of their websites using published standards. Prior to ordering genetic tests, counselling requests response rates were 69%, with most replies received within one business day. Genetic test report quality scores ranged between 67% and 78% for the administrative part and 67% to 100% for the test-related part. Seventy-five per cent of laboratories provided post-test counselling. Marked differences in genetic test recommendations were observed within and between laboratories for both Border Collies and Maine Coons, and this was not linked to geographical location, patents, or allele frequency.
Clinical significance: The highly variable quality of websites and reports, access to counselling and recommendations on which genetic tests to use can have serious consequences for animal health and welfare. This substantiates the concerns expressed in the scarce veterinary literature.
期刊介绍：
Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP) is a monthly peer-reviewed publication integrating clinical research papers and case reports from international sources, covering all aspects of medicine and surgery relating to dogs, cats and other small animals. These papers facilitate the dissemination and implementation of new ideas and techniques relating to clinical veterinary practice, with the ultimate aim of promoting best practice. JSAP publishes high quality original articles, as well as other scientific and educational information. New developments are placed in perspective, encompassing new concepts and peer commentary. The target audience is veterinarians primarily engaged in the practise of small animal medicine and surgery.
In addition to original articles, JSAP will publish invited editorials (relating to a manuscript in the same issue or a topic of current interest), review articles, which provide in-depth discussion of important clinical issues, and other scientific and educational information from around the world.
The final decision on publication of a manuscript rests with the Editorial Board and ultimately with the Editor. All papers, regardless of type, represent the opinion of the authors and not necessarily that of the Editor, the Association or the Publisher.
The Journal of Small Animal Practice is published on behalf of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and is also the official scientific journal of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association
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