Final answer:
The genetic test for bitter taste sensitivity is not regulated by CLIA because it is not a diagnostic test for a medical condition. Bitter taste sensitivity is hereditary and influenced by genes but understanding it does not directly relate to medical diagnosis or treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
c) It is not a diagnostic test for a medical condition. This is because the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulate laboratory testing that is intended for medical purposes, such as diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease.
Genotyping a gene for the ability to taste bitter substances, while genetically determined and hereditary, does not generally serve a medical diagnostic purpose. Bitter taste sensitivity, particularly to substances like PTC (phenylthiocarbamide), is controlled by specific genes on chromosome 7. The degree of sensitivity to bitterness can vary among individuals, which is related to the number of taste buds and the density of papillae on the tongue—genetic variations that are studied by scientists like Dr. Danielle Reed.
Therefore, a test for such a trait typically falls outside the scope of CLIA regulation as it doesn't relate to diagnosing or preventing a disease, but rather to understanding personal sensory experience and non-medical genetic differences.