How to do genetic testing
In recent years, genetic testing, as a cutting-edge health management method, has gradually entered the public eye. Whether it is disease risk prediction, personalized medication guidance, or ancestry traceability, the application scenarios of genetic testing are becoming more and more widespread. This article will introduce in detail the genetic testing process, precautions, and comparison of current popular genetic testing services to help you fully understand this technology.
1. Basic process of genetic testing
Genetic testing usually involves the following steps:
| steps | Specific content | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Select test items | Choose health risk, medication guidance, ancestry analysis and other testing types according to your needs | Give priority to institutions with accreditation |
| 2. Buy a test kit | Purchase test kits containing collection tools through the official website or authorized channels | Pay attention to check the integrity of the packaging |
| 3. Sample collection | Usually saliva or oral swab samples are used | Do not eat or drink 30 minutes before collection |
| 4. Sample delivery | Send it back to the laboratory in the matching return packaging | Avoid storage in high temperature environment |
| 5. Laboratory analysis | Testing usually takes 2-6 weeks to complete | You can follow the progress query |
| 6. Interpretation of the report | Get reports via online platform | Some institutions provide genetic counseling |
2. Comparison of popular genetic testing services
According to the search popularity across the Internet in the past 10 days, the following are the most popular genetic testing service providers:
| brand | Main functions | Number of test items | price range | reporting cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23andMe | Ancestry analysis + health risks | 150+ | $99-$199 | 3-5 weeks |
| AncestryDNA | Family traceability | 1000+ areas | $59-$99 | 6-8 weeks |
| WeGene | Special testing for Asians | 200+ | 499-999 yuan | 4-6 weeks |
| BGI | Early tumor screening | 50+ cancer types | 2000-5000 yuan | 2-3 weeks |
| Microgene | whole genome sequencing | 30,000+ sites | 9999 yuan | 8-10 weeks |
3. Precautions for Genetic Testing
1.Privacy protection: Choose an organization with a strict privacy policy to understand how data is stored and used.
2.Interpretation of results: Genetic test results are only probabilistic tips and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis. It is recommended to consult a professional doctor.
3.detection limit: Currently, most consumer-level genetic tests only cover common mutation sites and cannot replace clinical diagnosis.
4.Mental preparation: Unexpected genetic information may be discovered, so psychological preparation is required.
4. The latest trends in genetic testing
1.Early tumor screening: Liquid biopsy technology has become a new direction for early cancer screening.
2.Nutrigenomics: Develop a personalized diet plan based on genetic characteristics.
3.pharmacogenomics: Predict drug reactions and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.
4.newborn screening: Expanded newborn genetic screening is becoming increasingly popular.
As an important part of precision medicine, genetic testing is profoundly changing the way we manage our health. Only by choosing the test items that suit you and treating the test results rationally can you maximize the value of genetic testing. It is recommended to conduct testing and interpretation under the guidance of professional medical personnel, so that technology can truly serve health.
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