Counseling about changes and consent in direct-to-consumer testing

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing continues to evolve rapidly, bringing new opportunities—and new challenges—for informed consent and patient understanding. This talk will explore available options to consumers, how changes in test scope, and result interpretation affect the counseling process and the expectations consumers bring to testing. We will discuss common consent gaps in the direct-to-consumer space, including issues related what patients are consenting for, loopholes in consents, and reinterpretation of results over time. The session will also highlight practical strategies genetic counselors can use to support patients who pursue or bring results from direct-to-consumer testing while ensuring that consent remains meaningful and informed.

Level of Instruction: Intermediate