Redefining a technology: public and private genetic testing in Aotearoa New Zealand

In the last ten years there has been a rapid expansion in the number of genetic tests and increased interest in accessing the information available through these tests. The expansion of access to genetic testing occurs against the background of mixed systems for delivering health services, including DNA testing. This paper draws on theory relating to the social shaping of technologies and the concept of technological 'scripts' to offer a critical analysis of recent debate in Aotearoa New Zealand about private provision of genetic testing. An apparent 'turf war' between professionals about who will provide genetic tests obscures attention to a more serious issue--the redefinition of a technology. What is at stake is not just who will do the tests, but what technology is available--either genetic testing as a commodity, or an integrated set of genetic services. While focused on a particular national context, this paper addresses issues relevant to the provision of genetic services in other nation states characterised by a mixture of public and private provision of health services.