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It is important to note that the use of DNA tests as a pre-insurance screening tool
is yet to take hold in India.

4.2 Reasons for genetic testing

Genetic tests are used for several reasons, including:

a) Pre-symptomatic testing for predicting adult-onset disorders (Huntington’s disease)
b) To confirm a diagnosis and direct a physician towards appropriate treatments.
c) Pre-natal diagnostic testing
d) Conformational diagnosis of a symptomatic individual

4.3 Advantage of genetic testing

Advantage of genetic testing is as follows:

a) Advantage of genetic testing helps in predictive analysis or as a prognostic
predicting the onset of serious disorders such as Alzheimer's disease cancers.
b) These tests are especially useful to healthy (pre-symptomatic) people who are
identified as being at high risk because of a strong family medical history for the
disorder.
c) These tests give a probability for developing the disorder, and therefore in
evaluating life risks and determining the extent of loading that needs to be
applied to an applicant.
d) Genetic testing can help in discriminating the risk based on scientific and
empirical data, so that individuals with certain genes can be grouped together for
risk assessment and hence help in reducing adverse selection.

4.4 Disadvantages of genetic testing

Disadvantage of genetic testing are as follows:

a) Gene testing only indicates uncertain probabilities rather than clear cut prediction
of a certain disease that might be present in an individual.
b) Gene testing can result in discrimination where certain individuals could be
denied insurance cover due to presence of certain genes.
c) There exist limitations such as laboratory errors due to sample contamination of
the chemicals used for testing.
d) There also exist ambiguities in the test interpretation and risks for discrimination
and social stigmas attached, which could outweigh the benefits of genetic testing.
e) There could be medico-legal issues that can come up with the introduction of
genetic testing in life insurance applicants.
f) Some of the proponents who would otherwise be seen as seen as uninsurable
due to gene testing could become insurable if it is proven that the predictive
value of a particular disease is miniscule or inconsequential.

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