Genetics: Screening

(asked on 4th January 2016) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women were tested for the BRCA1/2 gene mutation in each of the last five years.


Answered by
George Freeman Portrait
George Freeman
This question was answered on 12th January 2016

NHS England offers BRCA testing to individuals with a greater than 10% chance of carrying the mutation, using a model based on the individual’s personal and family history of cancers. Data is not collected centrally on reasons for women choosing to take a test for the BRCA1/2 gene mutation.


The UK Genetic Testing Network is working with NHS England, the devolved administrations and the Health and Social Care Information Centre to collect and publish United Kingdom-wide data on molecular genetic testing activity. Data collection is expected to have been completed by the summer of 2016 with a full update prepared for publication by the end of the year. However, it is not intended that this will include specific data for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation testing activity.


Reticulating Splines