We have primarily depended on information gleaned from company websites, and we have adopted a rather broad definition of DTC pharmacogenetics in order to encompass a wide range of services. Setting aside debates around the value and dangers of genotyping risk alleles for complex disease, we focus here on the pharmacogenetic information currently provided by DTC companies, and assess the value and limitations of this information.

It seems likely these companies will remain a significant force as providers of genome information to the public, and it is conceivable that they will evolve to become major players in the healthcare setting. Despite the contentious beginnings of these services and debates about the value of the information they provide (Platt, 2009 Vashlishan Murray et al., 2010), it is fair to suggest that DTC companies have played an important role in raising public awareness around genetics, empowering individuals to seek more knowledge about their own genomes and enabling them to encourage their doctors to also consider this information. The provision of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genotyping services gives patients access to personal genetic information that is often of uncertain value, and that the majority of medical professionals are not sufficiently confident of handling (Stanek et al., 2012).

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