These pages provide information on the former Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing (ACGT).

ACGT's role and function were subsumed into the Human Genetics Commission when the latter was established in December 1999, following a comprehensive review in May 1999 by the UK Government of the regulatory and advisory framework for biotechnology. The report of the review is available on the Office of Science and Technology website .

ACGT was established as a non-statutory advisory committee in 1996, as part of the response to the 1995 Select Committee on Science and Technology report on Human Genetics. Chaired by the Rev. Dr John Polkinghorne KBE FRS, ACGT considered and advised UK Health Ministers on developments in genetic testing, the ethical,social and scientific aspects of testing and established requirements to be met by suppliers of genetic testing services. It considered the use, or potential use, of tests both within clinical practice, and those which are supplied direct to the public.

ACGT's full terms of reference were:

• to provide advice to Ministers on developments in genetic testing;
• to advise on genetic tests taking account of ethical, social and scientific aspects;
• to establish requirements, especially in respect of efficacy and product information, to be met by manufacturers and suppliers of genetic tests.

All enquiries should be addressed to the Secretariat of the Human Genetics Commission based at:

HGC Secretariat
Area 652C
Skipton House,
80 London Road,
LONDON SE1 6LH
Tel 020 7972 1518
Fax 020 7972 1717

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copyright: © | last updated 16 July 2002

Genetics

Human Genetics Commission