The 23andMe experience is designed to be user-friendly. Individuals interested in viewing their health and ancestry through the lens of their personal genetics use a home-based saliva collection kit to provide their saliva sample. In exchange, they receive access to more than 150 genetic reports through a private and secure online account from the comfort of their homes.
1. Obtain and register a kit
2. Submit saliva sample
3. Explore results
4. Participate in research
Customers purchase their kits online at 23andMe.com or through our authorized retailer without medical requisition. They have the option of two different services: 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service or 23andMe Ancestry + Traits Service. Prior to purchasing the Health + Ancestry Service, they are provided with important test information. There are opportunities for 23andMe Health + Ancestry customers to add additional features to their service.
Customers create their accounts and register their kits. They are able to consent to participate in research, to allow 23andMe to store their sample and to opt in to receive health reports. They are required to complete an educational module prior to viewing their results. Sensitive reports, such as Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, MUTYH- Associated Polyposis, and BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants), require additional opt-ins. Customers are encouraged to speak with their healthcare providers or meet with a genetic counselor prior to testing.
Customers submit saliva samples from their homes by following a simple set of step-by-step instructions. 23andMe’s DNA collection kit is FDA-cleared for use with our Genetic Health Risk, Cancer Predispositions, Pharmacogenetics, and Carrier Status reports and manufactured in accordance with FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.
The saliva sample is mailed to the lab in pre-paid packaging. All samples are processed using using a leading technology to genotype an individual’s DNA – a custom version of the lllumina Global Screening Array. This technology allows the identification of specific genetic variants that can be informative about the customer’s health and ancestry.
10+ reports
Familial Hypercholesterolemia Atrial Fibrillation Coronary Artery Disease High Blood Pressure LDL Cholesterol Type 2 Diabetes
3 reports
40+ reports
35+ reports
5+ reports
Depending on which service they have selected, customers can gain access to more than 150 interactive reports*, online tools (Inheritance Tracing, Automatic Family Tree Builder, Share and Compare and DNA Relatives), education modules and other helpful resources, including the 23andMe Customer Care team.
Customers are encouraged to share their results with their healthcare provider. It may be advisable under certain circumstances to refer patients to a genetic counselor. They can also locate a genetic counselor near them through the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
Genetic counselors can help navigate common questions, such as:
80% of our customers choose to participate in 23andMe research by answering online survey questions. On average, a customer who opts in to research contributes to more than 200 studies on topics that include behavior, cancer, dermatology, hematology, immunology, musculoskeletal, neurology, psychiatry, reproduction and rare disease. By participating in online surveys and allowing researchers to combine their aggregated, de-identified genetic data with over 2 billion other data points, customers can help drive scientific and medical discoveries forward. See our list of publications here.
We also collaborate with leading researchers in academia and pharma from around the world to improve understanding of the underlying genetics of certain diseases, which could lead to better diagnostics and treatments. Our research communities have included lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, fertility, pain and major depressive/bipolar disorders. See our current community research efforts here.
*The 23andMe PGS test includes health predisposition and carrier status reports. Health predisposition reports include both reports that meet US FDA requirements for genetic health risks and the 23andMe Type 2 Diabetes health predisposition report which is based on 23andMe research and has not been reviewed by the FDA. The test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks and reporting carrier status. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future, the health of your fetus, or your newborn child’s risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. Warnings & Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of the 185delAG and 5382insC variants in the BRCA1 gene and the 6174delT variant in the BRCA2 gene. The report describes if a woman is at increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, and if a man is at increased risk of developing breast cancer or may be at increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The three variants included in this report are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and do not represent the majority of BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in the general population. The MUTYH-Associated Polyposis Genetic Health Risk Report is indicated for reporting the Y179C and G396D variants in the MUTYH gene and an increased risk for colorectal cancer. The two variants included in this report are most common in people of Northern European descent. These reports do not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in these reports do not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding other genetic health risk reports and carrier status reports, visit 23andme.com/test-info.
The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect 6 variants in 3 genes in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting information about the processing of certain therapeutics to inform discussions with a healthcare professional. It does not describe if a person will or will not respond to a particular therapeutic and does not describe the association between detected variants and any specific therapeutic. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting with independent genetic testing before taking any medical action. Warning: Test information should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment and does not test for all possible variants that may affect metabolism or protein function. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional. Making changes to your current regimen can lead to harmful side effects or reduced intended benefits of your medication, therefore consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medical action. For a complete list of the 6 variants tested, visit https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/pgt_product_info_page_21jan2020.pdf.
