My Gene Counsel and Ambry Genetics Join Forces to Bridge the Gap Between Direct-To-Consumer Testing and Medical-Grade Genetic Testing

March 18, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ambry Genetics
1 Enterprise
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

The One-Stop Solution will allow direct-to-consumer kit users to confirm their hereditary cancer results

New Haven, CT - March 18, 2019 - My Gene Counsel, a digital health company that provides personalized, easy-to-understand genetic testing reports, today announced a partnership with Ambry Genetics to offer the first One-Stop Solution for direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic test results confirmed through medical-grade testing. They will also provide proper genetic counseling for consumers determined to be at high risk for hereditary forms of cancer.

“We are excited to partner with Ambry Genetics because of their commitment to delivering the most accurate genetic testing for hereditary cancer,” said Ellen Matloff, President and CEO of My Gene Counsel. “Ambry has long been a leader in this area, and they are now the leader again in creating a path for consumers to confirm their results.”

A rise in public interest for DTC genetic tests has been accompanied by an increasing controversy regarding a high number of false positive results, incorrectly indicating a disease is present. A 2018 study by Ambry Genetics, published in Genetics in Medicine, focused on gene variants reported in the raw data of DTC genetic testing. Key findings revealed:

• A 40 percent false-positive rate
• 17 percent of variants in raw data from DTC tests were misinterpreted as high-risk

“Our results demonstrate the importance of confirming DTC raw data variants in a clinical laboratory that is experienced in both complex variant detection and classification,” said Brigette Tippin Davis, Ph.D., FACMG, Senior Vice President of Research & Development of Ambry Genetics, Inc. “Both false-positive results and misclassification of variants can result in significant implications for an individual, including unnecessary stress, medical procedures, and testing of family members. Together, My Gene Counsel and Ambry Genetics are providing a unique solution that will help alleviate these problems.”

The program is for consumers who have taken a DTC genetic test, have a personal or family history of cancer, and still have unresolved questions. This includes consumers with a strong history of cancer who received negative DTC testing results.

My Gene Counsel is currently offering a limited number of free subscriptions to their service and genetic counseling as part of this program. Consumers may also be eligible to receive free confirmatory verification testing through their insurance provider if they meet criteria. Information on qualifying criteria may be found at mygenecounsel.com/onestop.

About My Gene Counsel: My Gene Counsel is a HIPAA-compliant digital resource for genetic information and a one-stop-shop to stay on top of advancements tied to personal genetic test results. The company was founded in 2014 by certified genetic counselors with more than 30 years of clinical experience and leadership in genetic counseling and testing. From deep in the trenches of clinical care, they saw the need to provide consumers and clinicians with a progressive, digital method of ensuring accuracy and staying up-to-date on their genetic test results. For more information, visit www.mygenecounsel.com.

Press Contact:
Caitlin Kingsley
Caitlin@MyGeneCounsel.com
(203) 430-7476