Serotonin Transporter Lab Testing?

A reader just emailed to let me know he'd found a lab which offers a test which will determine your gene type for the "serotonin transporter". The significance of this particular gene is a long but very interesting story, which I've tried to tell in plain english on my webpage about "Yellow People and Blue People". This story is a young one. There is a lot more to learn. But for now it looks pretty clear: this is a gene which has an impact on mood, and probably anxiety -- in some people.

Most people, upon hearing this story, want to know where they can get tested. At least that's a first reaction. But whether to get tested or not is a tricky decision. That warrants another page on my site, considering the pro's and con's.

This used to be a theoretical issue, but with at least one lab actually offering the test, it's time for a more deliberate consideration of these pro's and con's. The justification being offered for the test by the lab is strong -- but very narrow. There is one particular purpose the test may indeed serve well (it's a little early to conclude even that much). But now that the test is available, I fear people will start using it for other reasons. This is going to be tricky.

For now I think it's so tricky I'm not even going to link the lab. You could probably figure it out if you really wanted. Read the pro/con essay first though. Good luck thinking that through.