title: GeneTests-GeneClinics: genetic testing information for a growing audience.
abstract: The development and usage of two companion NIH-funded genetic testing information databases, GeneTests (www.genetests.org) and GeneClinics (www.geneclinics.org), now merged into one web site, reflect the steadily increasing use of genetic testing and the expanding audience for genetic testing information. Established in 1993 as Helix, a genetics laboratory directory of approximately 110 listings, GeneTests has grown into a database of over 900 tests for inherited diseases, a directory of over 500 international laboratories, a directory of over 1,000 U.S. and international genetics clinics, and a resource for educational/teaching materials and reports of summary genetic test data. GeneClinics, founded in 1997 as an expert-authored, peer-reviewed, disease-specific knowledge base relating genetic testing to patient care, has grown steadily, now containing over 130 expert-authored, peer-reviewed full-text entries relating genetic testing information to diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of specific inherited diseases. In spring 2001 the two databases were merged and in October 2001 the two web sites were merged for the purpose of seamless navigation into the GeneTests-GeneClinics site (www.genetests.org or www.geneclinics.org); the GeneClinics knowledge base was renamed "GeneReviews" to avoid confusion with the U.S. and international clinic directories. As genetic testing has moved steadily out of research venues and into routine medical practice, the user audience for these databases has become international and expansive and includes healthcare providers, patients, educators, policy makers, and the media. The use of these combined resources has grown to approximately 3,200 visits/day.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Roberta A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pagon
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tarczy-Hornoch
authors.forename: Patricia K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Baskin
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Maxine L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Covington
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espeseth
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beahler
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Popovich
authors.forename: Charli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nesbitt
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Kathi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marymee
authors.forename: Nancy B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Neufeld-Kaiser
authors.forename: Gina McCullough
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Grohs
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kicklighter
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abair
authors.forename: Audin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malmin
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Rajasri Dharani
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Palepu
mesh_terms: D030541:Databases, Genetic / Q000639:trends*; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000639:trends*