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The Genetics and Insurance Committee has begun a consultation process to decide what criteria insurance companies should have to satisfy if they wish to use a specific genetic test for insurance risk assessment. GAIC has approached the question by producing a draft version of an application form that insurers would have to submit to GAIC, and is asking for comments from interested parties by 17 March 2000. The draft application form includes sections requiring information on, for example, the genetic basis of the condition (including penetrance and any genetic heterogeneity), test standards, any inherent weakness or technical shortcomings in the test or its interpretation, and how the interpretation of the test result will be influenced by genetic findings in other family members. It also requires the insurance company to provide evidence that the proposed test is actuarially relevant to the type of insurance covered by the application. GAIC notes that, in the short- and medium-term future, they expect applications to be made only in respect of tests for single-gene Mendelian diseases that have a large effect on health or life expectancy; at present, too little is known about genetic predisposition to multifactorial diseases to justify insurers' use of tests for predisposing polymorphisms. The draft application form is accompanied by a very useful set of notes giving further information and guidance. In particular, an excellent Annex (Annex C) gives a layman's guide to insurance underwriting in life and health insurance that should be required reading for all those with an interest in this area. Copies of the consultation can be downloaded from the GAIC website