On May 14, Walgreen's became the first national U.S. drugstore chain store to sell gene test kits that promise to deliver information about a person's risk for developing diseases like Alzheimer's and cystic fibrosis and for passing medical conditions on to their children. For $30, buyers receive a plastic vial and a shipping envelope to mail their spit sample to the test's manufacturer, San Diego-based Pathway Genomics. Consumers then pay another $79 to $249 for a detailed gene assessment. At least two other U.S. companies now market gene tests on the Internet, but Pathway Genomics is hoping a retail presence will entice more customers to try them.
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