National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
NCI Home Cancer Topics Clinical Trials Cancer Statistics Research & Funding News About NCI

Understanding Cancer Series: Gene Testing
< Back to Main
In English En español
    Posted: 01/28/2005    Reviewed: 09/01/2006
Page Options
Print This Page  Print This Page
Print This Document  Print This Document
View Entire Document  View Entire Document
E-Mail This Document  E-Mail This Document
View/Print PDF  View/Print PDF
View/Print PowerPoint  View/Print PowerPoint
Quick Links
Director's Corner

Dictionary of Cancer Terms

NCI Drug Dictionary

Funding Opportunities

NCI Publications

Advisory Boards and Groups

Science Serving People

Español
Quit Smoking Today
NCI Highlights
Report to Nation Finds Declines in Cancer Incidence, Death Rates

High Dose Chemotherapy Prolongs Survival for Leukemia

Prostate Cancer Study Shows No Benefit for Selenium, Vitamin E

The Nation's Investment in Cancer Research FY 2009

Past Highlights
Slide 39 : Technical Concerns previous

Before gene tests become generally available, specialists and society at large must come to grips with major technical, ethical, and economic concerns.

If widespread gene testing becomes a reality, it will be necessary to develop tests that are simple, cost-effective, and accurate. Testing thousands to millions of people will require many new labs and personnel as well as more genetic counselors. And widespread gene testing will require that many health care providers have a basic understanding of genetic principles in order to interpret the tests.

Technical Concerns

< Previous  |  Index


A Service of the National Cancer Institute
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov