Parents 'want child gene tests'

18 April 2011 Last updated at 06:45 GMT Genetic tests look for increased risk of disease Parents believe the benefits of testing their children for the genetic risk of some diseases outweigh the negative consequences, according to US scientists.

In the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, parents who were offered a genetic test supported their children also being tested.

The authors say doctors and politicians need to be more aware of the issue.

Genewatch UK said children should never be tested for adult conditions.

Genetic testing used to be confined to specialist clinics, but direct-to-consumer testing is now possible.

People send a sample to a company in the post and are told if they have any genes which carry an increased risk of illness.

Genetic test

In this study, 219 parents were tested for 15 genetic variants linked to heart disease, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and colon, skin and lung cancer.

They were then asked a series of questions to compare benefits such as reassurance, knowledge and prevention, with risks such as invasion of privacy and psychological discomfort.

The report found that "parents offered the genetic susceptibility test for common preventable conditions tended to consider that the potential benefits of this test for their own child could outweigh its risks".

Professor Kenneth Tercyak, from the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, said: "These tests usually don't offer a clean bill of health and can be hard to interpret even in the best scenario."

Helen Wallace, from genetic science lobby group Genewatch UK, said: "Online gene tests frequently give misleading results because most common conditions such as cancer, obesity or diabetes are not predicable from a person's genes, except in special circumstances.

"Children should not be tested for risk of adult-onset conditions, full stop. They should be allowed to decide for themselves, with medical advice, when they are grown up."

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, director of BMA Professional Activities, said: "We would have concerns about genetic testing being widely available over the internet or off the shelf because parents could find out results without a health professional to help intepret them. They may also find out about genetic abnormalities for which there are no cures, or be caused needless worry.

"It is important that parents who find out that their children have a genetic disposition to a particular illness, have counselling in advance so they understand the consequences of the test for their child, other children and themselves."

Prof Tercyak said: "The findings of our study should remind clinicians and policy-makers to consider children when regulating genetic tests."

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Lab ends drink-drive sample tests

9 February 2011 Last updated at 18:43 GMT The Forensic Science Service is being wound down until its closure next year A forensics lab has stopped analysing samples taken from drink-drive suspects by police forces in England and Wales.

The Forensic Science Service (FSS) had planned to close the lab in Lancashire and move the work to south London.

The closure will go ahead next month but there will now be no move as the government has said the FSS would be wound down by next year.

Forces have been told to refrigerate blood and urine samples until another forensic service provider can be found.

However this would have "no impact on the criminal justice process", according to senior officers.

'Appreciate challenges'

The FSS confirmed it would not be doing any more tests on drink-drive samples but it is understood there are at least four other providers who already do similar work.

A memo from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) to chief constables said the FSS said would no longer process any samples taken under the Road Traffic Act.

Officials hoped to to find "alternative suppliers" within seven working days, it added.

The memo stated: "We appreciate the challenges and difficulties that this change may cause your force. However, we would ask that you continue to work with us whilst we resolve this issue."

The move affects cases where the suspect is unable to provide a breath test or the equipment is faulty, or opts for an alternative means of testing.

The government announced in December that the Birmingham-based FSS was to close.

'Swift arrangements'

The move, called Operation Slingshot, is being overseen by Wiltshire Deputy Chief Constable David Ainsworth, working with the the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), the Home Office and the NPIA.

A joint statement from Acpo and the NPIA said: "As part of the managed wind-down of the Forensic Science Service a number of services currently delivered to police forces will be discontinued.

"There is capacity to undertake these services by other forensic suppliers under the NPIA's national framework for the supply of forensic services to policing.

"A transition plan was already in place for the transfer of the testing work undertaken by the Forensic Science Service. Swift arrangements will now be made to ensure that alternative suppliers provide the analysis for Road Traffic Act drink and drug cases. There are already other forensic suppliers who undertake this work.

"A small number of samples may be held by police forces whilst the new arrangements are put in place quickly, but this will have no impact on the criminal justice process."

The FSS, which employs 1,600 people, carried out the testing at a lab in Chorley and had planned to move operations to its site in Lambeth in south London.

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