Speaker #1:
Dana Bailey. Clinical Chemist. Dynacare.
Dana Bailey is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (FCACB) and the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (FAACC). She is a Clinical Chemist at Dynacare, with a focus on core lab and point of care testing. Additionally, she is chair of the CACB examination committee and Presitent of the Ontario Society of Clinical Chemists. Her research interests bridge clinical and quality concepts and include cardiovascular disease, development of reference intervals, and application of quality metrics to the clinical laboratory.
Speaker #2:
Kristin Hauff. Clinical Biochemist. Interior Health
Kristin Hauff has worked in both public and community labs, joining LifeLabs BC Clinical Chemistry Department in 2012.  Then, in 2018, the large hospital network of Interior Health in BC, where she is the Clinical Lead for Special Chemistry and Toxicology. Kristin continues her role as Clinical Instructor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at University of British Columbia and champion of evidence based laboratory utilization.
Overview:
During this presentation, we will debate the pros (Dana Bailey) and cons (Kristin Hauff) of direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing. Through the debate, we will highlight the current landscape and future projections of DTC testing, the advantages and limitations of DTC testing, and the role the laboratory may play in supporting or limiting DTC testing. In total, we will strive to answer the question whether DTC testing represents a tidal shift within the healthcare industry, or a passing trend.
Objectives:
At the end of the session, the participants will be able to:
- Describe the current landscape and future projections of direct to consumer testing in North America.
- Outline the benefits of direct to consumer testing.
- Outline the concerns with direct to consumer testing, and how to mitigate potential risks.