LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a new consumer alert on genetic testing services. The new alert comes as she is urging 23andMe customers to consider deleting their accounts to protect their sensitive personal data following the genetic testing company’s bankruptcy.

Attorney General Nessel emphasized in her alert the difference between genetic testing conducted for medical purposes by health care providers and testing performed by private direct-to-consumer genetic testing services.

“While DNA testing conducted for medical purposes by a health care provider is strongly protected by federal privacy laws, results from private direct-to-consumer genetic services are not considered medical records and lack these legal protections,” Nessel said. “Amid the 23andMe bankruptcy, consumers should be mindful of the potential risks of these private services and take steps to protect their data.”

After creating an account and receiving their report, some commercial genetic testing customers may have no more use for the service. They should consider deleting their accounts. Then they should request the destruction of any stored data.

To prevent unauthorized access or misuse of their data, account holders should:

1. Take steps to delete their account from the company’s website.
2. Request the destruction of their genetic data.
3. Revoke permission for genetic data to be used in research, if applicable.

Consumers who suspect their genetic data has been compromised can report their concerns to the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form