Next time you step foot in your local pharmacy to fill your prescription of anti-blood clotting drugs, you might consider picking up a personal genome kit to determine whether you’re actually responding to the medication. That scenario will soon be possible at around 6,000 Walgreen outlets across the US.

The drugstore giant announced that starting Friday it plans to sell $30 saliva collection kits manufactured by Pathway Genomics, an upstart direct-to-consumer gene testing company that is competing with the more recognizable names of 23andMe, deCODE genetics and Navigenics.

The money, however, only buys shoppers a small spit tube, instructions and a pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope. Customers must then mail away their DNA-containing loogies to Pathway’s San Diego labs, which will perform the full genetic testing for an additional $79 to $249, depending on the extent of the test.

“We’re making it easier and more affordable than ever before to order a personalized genetic report,” said Jim Plante, chief executive of Pathway Genomics, in a statement.

The announcement has already irked officials at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which plans to investigate any medical claims made by the company, Reuters reports. Pathway maintains that regulatory clearance is not necessary because the tests only provide lifestyle information and are not designed to diagnose or treat any diseases.

Not everyone is convinced. “This is attempting to move to Main Street with this genetic testing and it’s my opinion that FDA will go after them tooth and nail to stop it,” Ira Loss, a senior health policy analyst at Washington Analysis LLC, told Bloomberg.

The kits will be sold at all Walgreen stores except those in the state of New York, where state law considers them medical tests and not consumer information.

Image of 23andMe’s kit by juhansonin via Flickr Creative Commons