Chinese company collects genetic data from pregnant women worldwide (video)

Current research makes you sit up and take notice. According to information from the Reuters newsroom, the Chinese gene company BGI Group uses a test for pregnant women developed together with the Chinese military to collect and evaluate genetic data from millions of women worldwide. This has raised concerns in both the US and Germany.
The tests by the BGI Group are also used by the Eluthia company in Giessen and evaluated in China. Ramón Enriques Schäfer, Managing Director of Eluthia: “Well, the data goes to Hong Kong, not China. There is still a small difference, because Hong Kong still has different data protection laws – one can still say – than China. We have concluded a contract that regulates data transfer in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. And there is a very clear definition of what may and may not happen with the data in the laboratory. And in our case only the sample may be analyzed these specific genetic syndromes of the child and no other examinations. And we are absolutely sure that this is exactly followed in the laboratory, because we have binding contracts between the laboratory in Hong Kong and our laboratory. “
Schäfer emphasizes that there is complete transparency towards the patient in all measures: “The patients have an informative discussion with their doctor, where the doctor informs the patient what the test can and what the test cannot. And of course also when the test goes abroad, the patient must be informed. She must also read through a piece of paper on the request form, which also lists possible potential risks that could theoretically be associated with performing a test abroad. And the patient signs this in full knowledge that these are possible risks. But the test is still very popular because it is the most detailed test available on the German market. “
China’s largest genomics company, BGI, began marketing the prenatal test overseas in 2013. Under the brand name Nifty, it is one of the best-selling non-invasive prenatal tests in the world. This involves examining a blood sample from a pregnant woman to check for abnormalities such as Down syndrome in the developing fetus. According to the BGI, more than eight million women have been tested to date. Nifty is sold in at least 52 countries including Germany, Canada, Australia, Thailand, and India, but not the United States.