Quixtar Leader to Leader Webcast, September 2007

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“Dozens of companies, most of them U.S.-based, now offer direct-to-consumer genetic tests. Some predict a customer’s risk for such ailments as heart disease, osteoporosis and cystic fibrosis. Pharmacogenetic tests are used to recommend medicines and dosages. Nutrigenetic tests, such as the one used by Ms. Dyck, use genetic information to tailor diet and exercise programs.

Right now, Canadian regulators have little authority over these tests. Only a small part of the service - the collection kits containing the inner-cheek swab materials - falls under Health Canada legislation. Once the cheek is swabbed and the sample is mailed back to the United States, testing falls under U.S. guidelines. And even if the lab and the tests are up to par, it’s still up to the consumer to discern whether genetic testing companies are making legitimate claims.

A year ago, one of the industry’s major players set up shop in Canada. Quixtar Inc. of Grand Rapids, Mich., has sold 10,000 of its two genetic tests to Canadians since opening up a distributor in London, Ont., says Lise Beland, the company’s senior health-product marketer.

Its heart health genetic test, which predicts risk of cardiovascular disease, accounts for 60 per cent of sales and costs about $245 per test. A general nutrition genetic test costs about $135 and recommends vitamins and supplements, which are also sold by Quixtar.”

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