Genetic Testing Still a Rare Practice Among Employers

Genetic testing of employees or potential employees by U.S. companies remains relatively uncommon, a congressional report said today.

Only 12 of 330 Fortune 500 companies surveyed used genetic testing and only eight others had used such testing one or more times between 1970 and 1989, according to the Office of Technology Assessment.

The report is a follow-up to a 1982 survey by the office, which found only six Fortune 500 companies had active genetic testing programs and 12 additional firms had had programs between 1970 and 1982.

Genetic testing involves either a one-time test to determine whether a worker or job applicant carries certain traits, such as a predisposition to an illness, or multiple testing to determine whether employees are experiencing genetic damage on the job.

The development of such testing has raised a variety of concerns, including whether the results would be kept confidential and whether they may be used to discriminate against individuals who carry certain traits.

The survey involved the 500 largest U.S. companies.