Health tileWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A genetic test can be found for any one of about 1,300 conditions, and three to five new tests emerge every month.
Millions of people, from cancer patients to would-be parents, have tapped into these tests to reveal what is making them sick or could sicken their children.
Two-thirds of doctors report that the technology has helped them identify diseases they couldn’t have identified otherwise, according to a survey commissioned by health care giant UnitedHealth Group. The survey is part of a study that concludes that a $5 billion-a-year market in genetic testing is poised to mushroom to $15 billion to $25 billion within a decade.
“Genetic science offers unprecedented potential to prevent disease and improve diagnosis and treatment, ushering in an era of truly personalized care,” Simon Stevens, UnitedHealth’s executive vice president, said in a prepared statement.
Doctors and other health care professionals echo that sentiment, saying they have seen the benefits of genetic testing firsthand and are eager to see more breakthroughs.