The expansion of genome testing could make some people uninsurable, according to a Swiss Re expert on life and health research.

The reinsurer’s Life and Health Head of Research and Development Daniel Ryan told insuranceNEWS.com.au the cost of genome testing is falling, so more data is becoming available.

“We are seeing tests drop below $1000, so more consumers will take up this testing,” he said.

“The worrying factor is how this information will change their way of life.”

Mr Ryan says there will have to be safeguards on how this information is used, especially by insurers.

“It is a big issue on how the information is kept and used as well as who will have access to it,” he said.

“The biggest risk is individuals not being able to get insurance based on their genome testing.”

The growth of genome testing is global, with many laboratories opening up. The number of projects building genetic databases is also on the rise.

In Australia there are now genome-testing laboratories in the major capital cities. In the UK, Oxford Nanopore Technology plans to have a disposable gene sequencing device on sale by the end of the year.  

The Personal Genome Project being developed in the US is looking for 100,000 people to help it build the database.

According to Mr Ryan, there are now 16,000 volunteers registered in 74 countries and 1056 now have their medical records online.

But increased genome testing is not all negative, he says.

“The testing will reveal rare diseases and we can then use specialists to treat those symptoms,” he said. “It will also have a dramatic impact on studies of diseases and how they could be treated earlier.”

This will be beneficial to life insurers, as early treatment could avoid more serious outcomes.

Again there will be issues in the future as to how much information a client tells their insurer, if they have undertaken a genome test.

“It will be a global issue of how much is disclosed and the larger international insurers will work out the pricing implications,” he said.

“Genome testing is going to be more commonplace within the next 10 years.”

But not everybody will want to know their future medical history.

“At a recent Swiss Re conference, we found only 50% of people would undertake genome testing,” he said. “The only social group that is very keen so far has been the very wealthy, and they are looking at it to define inheritance strategies.”