1. Order kit
Contact us to order a testing kit, and we will provide you with further information on payment and delivery.

2. Receive kit, collect sample
We will deliver a sample collection kit to your address within a week or two. The kit will contain instructions and sterile swabs. Collect your cheek swab sample and send it back to our facilities using the provided materials and instructions.

3. Back for genotyping
After receiving back your sample, we will extract DNA and use DNA microarrays to analyze your genetic risk for rare and common diseases, drug response, ancestry, and wellness and traits.

4. Wait patiently
Wait patiently for us to analyze your sample and generate your personalized genetic report. This process can take up to 10 weeks.

5. Receive report
After we complete your personalized genetic report, we will send it to you at your email address. Make sure you provide us with the correct email address.

Genetics is the study of genes, which are like instructions that you inherit from your family, and how they get passed down from parents to kids. It’s all about understanding DNA and how genes shape who you are.

Genetics is super important for our health because it helps us figure out why some people get sick and how they react to different medicines. When we understand genetics, we can even predict, avoid, and treat diseases better.

Genes are the fundamental units of heredity in all living beings. They’re specific sections of the DNA code that give instructions for making proteins, which do all the important jobs in our bodies. Each gene has its own special sequence of base pairs that tells it what to do. We get our genes from our parents, and they get passed down from generation to generation. In the human genome, there are around 20,000 genes.

Genetic variants are essentially differences in the DNA sequence that naturally happen among people. It’s important to note that not all of these genetic variants are harmful. In fact, each one of us has millions of genetic variants that make us unique, and most of them don’t affect our health at all. However, some genetic variants can either cause diseases or change the way our bodies process medications.

Genetic testing involves the analysis of genes to detect genetic variants and serves a range of purposes, such as diagnosing diseases, determining the risk of developing specific conditions, assessing genetic risks within families, predicting responses to medications, tracing ancestral heritage, and examining personal traits. The outcomes of genetic testing can have profound effects on individuals and their families. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits before deciding to undergo testing and to engage in discussions with a healthcare provider.

Genetic testing can be categorized into two types:

1. Clinical Genetic Testing: This type of testing takes place within a medical setting, typically ordered by a healthcare professional and conducted in a specialized diagnostic laboratory. Clinical genetic testing is employed to either diagnose or rule out genetic diseases, evaluate the probability of an individual developing a particular condition, predict how a person will respond to specific drugs, or confirm a diagnosis based on alternative testing methods.
2. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing: DTC genetic testing refers to tests that are requested and conducted outside medical settings, often by companies that offer genetic testing directly to consumers. DTC testing enables individuals to explore their ancestral lineage, genealogy, and personal traits. Some DTC tests, like the one we offer, may also provide information regarding a person’s risk for certain rare and common diseases, along with details about their pharmacogenetic profile. However, it is important to recognize that DTC testing is not intended for diagnostic purposes and should not be utilized to make medical decisions without consulting a healthcare professional.

Genotyping is a way to find out a person’s genetic code. It helps us discover certain genetic variants using methods like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or microarray-based genotyping.

In Nuclein Health, we use a microarray chip called the Global Screening Array (GSA) from Illumina® to determine your DNA’s genotype.

The GSA microarray is made using Illumina’s technology, and it has specific DNA probes embedded onto a chip. These probes are designed to attach only to specific genetic variants. Genotyping with the GSA chip starts with collecting a biological sample, like a buccal swab. DNA is extracted from the sample, amplified with a process called PCR, and marked with some glowing dyes.

The marked DNA is washed over the chip, letting the specific DNA probes attach to the specific DNA probes on the chip. This step is called hybridization. The attached probes are detected using a scanner, like the Illumina iScan, and the glowing signals are measured to determine the genotype of each variant.

The data is analyzed with special software to see if specific variants are present or not. This information can be used for many things, like assessing a person’s risk for diseases, figuring out how they’ll respond to medication, and learning about their genetic ancestry and traits.

The GSA chip is a powerful tool for genetic testing and is used in many areas, such as research, clinical diagnostics, and direct-to-consumer services.