Health Ministry warns of consumer genetic test risks to guide expectations

16 May 2022

As consumer genetic testing takes off in Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is doubling down on efforts to warn people of the risks. These include the possibility that test results are not backed by strong scientific evidence, or that testing companies may sell genetic data to third-party organisations. SP’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences director Dr Tan Tuan Lin and course chair Dr Edmund Lui said that such test results should not be used to assess, diagnose or treat health issues. They added that as a general rule, all genetic test results should be interpreted alongside factors such as a person’s medical history. NP’s School of Life Sciences and Chemical Technology senior lecturer Dr Chew Joon Lin said that the accuracy of such tests depends on various factors, including the technology used for testing.