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Confidentiality of genetic test results
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Confidentiality of genetic test results
Your doctor is not allowed to tell anyone that you have taken a genetic test or to reveal the results without your permission.
The only possible exception to this is the extremely rare circumstances in which the courts authorise police or lawyers to use the information contained in medical databases.
It is, however, highly unlikely that this will happen and even less likely that the results of genetic tests for breast cancer would be useful in a genetic investigation.
It is, however, highly unlikely that this will happen and even less likely that the results of genetic tests for breast cancer would be useful in a genetic investigation.
Giving a blood sample
When you give a blood sample for a genetic test it is also quite common for you to be asked:- Whether the blood sample can be used for research into hereditary breast cancer. You will not get any results back yourself from this research. If you do agree then your sample will be anonymised and will help scientists to understand more about breast cancer genetics.
- Whether the results of any genetic test can be shared with your relatives. As hereditary breast cancer runs in families, obviously it may be of interest to them whether or not you have the gene, and getting your permission to share information could be very helpful to your family in the future.
Will I be asked about my genetic test results at work?
Within the UK, employers should not ask whether or not an employee has had genetic testing for susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer.
Also within "Family history"
