Remember the vials you spit into, to find out where you are from, and what health concerns you may have?
They are back.
23andMe, the Silicon Valley biotech company that made headlines with its genetic tests – then had to stop telling people about risk factors, by order of the FDA – is once again testing our health, “with” FDA approval.
For $199, 23andMe can test you for 36 conditions, while giving you information about your genetic background.
Inside the company’s spacious new Mountain View headquarters, product VP Brad Kittredge sat down in front of a screen of data, saying “genetics can help us learn about ourselves in so many ways … Our identity, how we relate to our family, and health considerations.”
He also admitted, “the FDA asked us to pause” after concerns that 23andMe couldn’t properly validate the information people were getting.”
Now, 23andMe can tell you if you have a genetic predisposition for a specific disease which can be helpful.
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But, with high-tech testing in the spotlight after allegations that Palo Alto-based blood tester Theranos is not as accurate as it claims, 23andMe is moving slowly towards more information for its users.
As Kittredge says, “taking something complicated and science-y and making it relatable so people know about what to do with it."
It’s a field that’s still very science-y and new to most of us with a growing number of people working to make things easier. You can get the $199 saliva test on the 23andMe website, and if you’ve done the test previously, your results will be updated.
