Researchers report direct to consumer genetic testing does not result in any short-term increase in anxiety after receiving the results, whether positive or negative. Most people using commercially available genetic testing kits manufactured by Navigenics did not appear traumatized by their results, as some critics had feared.

The study published in the 13th January issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reveals nor did the test cause them to make lifestyle changes via diet, exercise or other changes to reduce their risks, including getting screening tests done for modifying the risk.

Dr. Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, Calif. And senior author of the first study to investigate the impact of such genome-wide scans on people, calling it a contentious subject said many had proclaimed the tests would induce a great deal of fear and trauma.

A relatively new phenomenon, consumers can have their genome checked for everything from caffeine metabolism to Alzheimer’s risk with direct to consumer genetic (DTC) testing, although experts are still figuring out the pros and cons of the test.

Last year, Pathway Genomics said it would begin selling the tests costing from $400 to $2,000 at Walgreen’s stores across the USA, however, Walgreen’s decided against it following the US Food and Drug Administration’s questions about the supplier.

While, patients seem undisturbed by the results of direct to consumer genome-wide profiling, the same cannot be said for experts who are worried the results may not be valid, including whether the data given to patients was accurate.

The study did not look at whether the results were accurate or meaningful. A General Accounting Office probe in July found genetic tests sold by four different companies produced inconsistent results.