Frequently Asked Questions

Gene testing
What is genetic testing?

Genetic testing uses laboratory methods to decode the genes, specifically at the DNA (Deoxyribo nucleic Acid) instructions. DNA is a genetic material located in your cells that you inherit from our parents. Genetic testing helps determine your unique inherited traits, including educational or fitness potential, physiology, nutritional requirements, behavioral tendencies & health risk.

What are the benefits of genetic testing?

There are many different types of genetic testing that help you:

  • Optimize your fitness training plan.
  • Optimize your nutrition plan.
  • Unlock your potential talents.
  • Enhance your behavior alignments.
  • Diagnose diseases.
  • Identify gene mutations that cause health problems.
  • Identify gene mutations that increase the risk of developing health problems.
  • Determine the severity of a disease.
  • Assist doctors to decide the best medicine or treatment for certain individuals.
How is genetic testing different from dermatoglyphics?

Genetic testing and dermatoglyphics are completely different from each other. Fingerprints are formed from pressure on a baby's tiny, developing fingers in the womb. While the gene is unique in each individual, specifying the traits: appearance, intelligence, behaviors, metabolism, physiology, health risks. Thus, genes decide your innate talents and are passed down generations.

Having your child’s genes decoded, you will know exactly their strengths and weaknesses. From this knowledge, suitable educational methods shall be applied to optimize the kid’s abilities and orient a bright future.

Will my blood be drawn for a genetic test?

No blood, only Saliva. Genetica provides a Saliva Collection Kit to collect and preserve the DNA from oral mucosa in your saliva sample.

How are genetic tests made by Genetica® different from other providers?

Genetica® combines Asian-specialized genetic data with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the top biotech from the US. The accuracy is 99,9%, approved by ILLUMINA - the worldwide leading genetic testing organization.

Genetica® tests a variety of genes impacting one trait. Therefore, your result report will be more precise and objective.

No blood is required for genetic tests at Genetica®. We use your saliva to extract DNA from your oral mucosa. This method increases t he amount of collected DNA and provides a sample that is free from impurity. By using saliva, our sample collecting procedure becomes much simpler, more convenient, and time-saving.

Genetica® laboratories follow a strict gene analysis procedure complied to the US standards. You can rest assured about the quality of our services.

Genetica® takes pride in having a board of advisors with high expertise, including scientists, doctors, and professors from the best facilities in the world such as Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, and more.

How accurate is the genetic test using Saliva?

Genetic tests using saliva include two major steps: extracting DNA from your oral mucosa and analyzing it. Hence, the accuracy depends on the genetic decoding chip and the reference data.

At the moment, Genetica® is proud of the decoding chip specially developed for Asian people. Together with the specific data on the Asian, artificial intelligence (AI) and the leading biotech from the US, the accuracy is 99,9%, approved by ILLUMINA - the worldwide leading genetic testing organization.

Guide
Can I collect the saliva by myself?

Yes, you can by following the simple steps as follows:

Step 1: Open the hopper and spit into the Saliva Collection Tube until the collected liquid amount reaches a marked line (The foam is not counted).

Step 2: Close the perseverance lid until the blue liquid drops completely into the collection tube.

Step 3: Detach the hopper & seal the tube tightly with a blue cap provided in the kit.

Step 4: Shake the tube 3 times to mix the Saliva with the preservative.

Step 5: Write your full name and date of birth on a tag on the tube. Then put the tube in a provided plastic bag & seal the bag, keep the white foam inside, and put the bag back into the box.

For visual guidelines, please watch this video: link

Any special requirements when collecting the saliva sample?

Yes, please follow these 6 requirements for 30 minutes before collecting saliva samples.

  • DO NOT brush your teeth
  • DO NOT eat, drink (also avoid drinking water)
  • DO NOT kiss
  • DO NOT smoke nor chew gum
  • DO NOT apply lipstick
  • DO NOT collect saliva immediately after waking up
Are there any age limits for genetic testing at Genetica®?

There’s no age limit as genetic tests can be carried out on newborns. However, services related to Hereditary cancer screening can only be used for people above the age of 18, according to US laws.

What is the order process of our genetic tests?

Genetica provides scientific and professional services through the registration for genetic test, including:

  • Step 1: Service Registration & Payment
  • Step 2: Saliva Sample Collection
  • Step 3: Registered information confirmation & Sample quality’s validation
  • Step 4: DNA extraction
  • Step 5: DNA/gene sequencing
  • Step 6: Quality control
  • Step 7: Report analysis
  • Step 8: Report validation
  • Step 9: Issue report and book a consultation

After 30 working days, users will get the genetic test results through the Genetica app.

Product information
How much does a genetic test cost?

Genetica’s genetic test prices vary from 1,990,000 VND, depending on your scope of services and various promotions at each period.

What kinds of genetic tests are provided by Genetica?

Genetica® provides services related to education, nutrition, fitness, physiology and hereditary cancer risks as follows:

For adults:

  • G-Care (Explore you core power)
  • G-Pro (Unlock your potential)
  • G-Awareness (Unearth self-awareness ability)
  • G-Smart (Discover your intellectual potential)
  • G-Intel Adult (Master your inner strength)

For children:

  • G-Kid Care (Explore your child’s core power)
  • G-Kid Pro (Thrive to the bright future)
  • G-Awareness Kid (Unearth your child’s self-awareness ability)
  • G-Smart Kid (Discover your kid’s intellectual potential)
  • G-Intel Kid (Unlock your child’s talents)

For health:

  • G-Health (Hereditary cancer screening, for individuals over 18)
  • G-Health F (Know your risk of developing women’s reproductive system cancers, for individuals over 18)
  • G-Health M (Know your risk of developing men’s reproductive system cancers, for individuals over 18)
  • G-Health D (Know your risk of developing digestive system cancers, for individuals over 18)
  • G-Breca (Know your risk of developing breast cancer, for individuals over 18)
  • G-Stoma (Know your risk of developing stomach cancer, for individuals over 18)
  • G-Ova (Know your risk of developing ovarian cancer, for individuals over 18)
  • G-Proca (Know your risk of developing prostate cancer, for individuals over 18)
  • G-Stroke (Know your risk of hereditary stroke)
  • G-Allergy (Know your risk of allergies)
  • G-Diabetes (Know your risk of diabetes type-2)
  • G-Autism (Know your child’s inherent risk of autism, for individuals under 18)
  • G-ADHD (Know your child’s inherent risk of ADHD, for individuals under 18)

Others:

  • U-Detox (Your liver cleanse ability, for individual over 18)
  • U-Mental Health (Mental wellness)
  • U-Vita (Your vitamin needs)
  • U-Nutri (Nutritional metabolism)
  • U-Fit (Sports potential, for individual over 18)
  • U-Sleep (Enhance your sleep quality)
  • U-Weight Management (Manage your weight, for individual over 18)
Where does Genetica’s quality stand in the genetic testing field?

Genetica is a technology company. Our scientists created a decoding chip suitable for the Asian population, using Asian-specialized genetic data for reference. Together with the adoption of top-knot artificial intelligence and biological technologies in the US, our chip has the accuracy of 99,9%, approved by ILLUMINA - the number one company in manufacturing arrays and sequencing.

Genetica applies AI to our gene analysis which is certified by Illunima. The Illumina platform (standard/ commercialized) arrays have an average call rate of >99% and data reproductivity of >99% with capacity to process up to 5,760 samples per week on the Illumina iScan system.

What are the benefits of genetic tests for a child’s development?

There are many factors contributing to your children’s talent potential. The more you understand their genes, the better you bring out their genius. Beside taking time and providing favorable environment, parents should understand your child’s genetic information. This knowledge enables you to help unlock your child’s talents, enhance their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Moreover, you can build appropriate development plans matching your children’s nutrition needs, fitness/educational potential, and behavior tendencies.

How do genetic tests benefit my personalized nutrition?

A healthy and balanced diet is important to the survival and quality of human’s life. Our bodies get the energy they need from foods: Some genes are responsible for metabolizing foods and converting into energy. While other genes are responsible for regulating eating behaviors, energy storage, vitamin and minerals needs, as well as food intolerance.

Learning your genetic makeup helps you optimize your diet, effectively control your weight, and to prevent related health risks.

How do genetic tests benefit my personalized fitness?

There are two important pieces of information to a sportsperson: an appropriate sport and workout schedule. Genetic testing provides you these information based on the analysis of certain genes, regarding physical strength, muscle recovery and joint injury risk.

How do genetic tests help me screen inherent cancer?

People with certain variants in their DNA have increasing risk of developing cancers. If an individual has that mutation, there is a 50% chance their siblings and children also have the same mutation. Genetic tests give users the information to take early preventive measures.

We built a custom genotyping array focusing on genetic susceptibility to diseases in East and South Asian populations. The array includes the latest content curated for the following variants:

  • Common pathogenic germline mutations reported in Clinvar (National Institutes of Health) and ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics) databases.
  • Common likely pathogenic germline mutations reported in Clinvar (National Institutes of Health) and ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics) databases.
How many cancer risks are included in the Hereditary Cancer Screening Test?

The 20 most common cancers in Asian Population are revealed in Genetica’s genetic tests:

  • Skin cancer
  • Brain cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Lung cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Adrenal myeloma
  • Paraganglioma
  • Kidney cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
What is the form of my genetic test report?

The genetic report is displayed in Vietnamese and English language, as a PDF sent via email. Or with a Genetica app on your mobile, you can conveniently read the reports anywhere, anytime.

Disclaimer

This test gene markers panel was developed Gene Friend Way, and the proprietary patent-pending gene decoding chips have been recognised by Illumina® and Thermo Fisher with >99 percent accuracy and follow strict compliance with HIPAA security standards. This test is used for informational purposes, and it should be regarded as such.

If you have any questions about this report or wish to speak with one of Genetica's genetic counsellors, please call 1900 599 927

Risk and limitations

Risk of Laboratory Technical Problems or Laboratory Error:

The certified testing laboratory has standard and effective procedures in place to protect against technical and operational problems. However, such problems may still occur. The testing laboratory receives samples collected by customers, patients and doctors. Problems in shipping to the laboratory or sample handling can occur, including but not limited to damage to the specimen or related paperwork, mislabeling, and loss or delay of receipt of the specimen. Laboratory problems can occur that might lead to inability to obtain results. Example include, but are not limited to, sample mislabeling, DNA contamination, un-interpretable results, and human and/or testing system errors. In such cases, the testing laboratory may need to request a new sample. However, upon re-testing, results may still not be obtainable.

As with all medical laboratory testing, there is a small chance that the laboratory could report inaccurate information. For example, the laboratory could report that a given genotype is present when in fact it is not. Any kind of laboratory error may lead to incorrect decisions regarding medical treatment and/or diet and fitness recommendations. If a laboratory error has occured or is suspected, a health care professional may wish to pursue further evaluation and/or other testing. Further testing may be pursued to verify any results for any reason.

General Limitations

The purpose of this test is provide information about how a tested individual's genes may affect carrier status for some inherited diseases, responses to some drugs, risk for specific common health conditions, and/or selected diet, nutrition and/or exercise responses, depending upon the specific genetic testing that is ordered. Tested individuals should not make any changes to any medical care (including but not limited to changes to dosage or frequency of medications, diet and exercise regimes, or pregnancy planning) based on genetic testing results without consulting a health care professional.

This test does not take into account large genomic abnormalities, chromosomal aneuploidy or complex rearrangements such as translocations.

In addition, there might be rare genetic variations being tested that could not be detected by current technologies. Genetics research is also not at all comprehensive. Only a fraction of DNA variations are known to be related to health and wellness traits. Take cancer as an example, there may be genes related to cancer that clinical relevance has yet to be established with certainty. As a result, the test may not detect all variants associated with the disease being examined.

Neither carrying a harmful mutation or negative genetic results will guarantee that a person might not develop the disease in the future.

The science behind the significance or interpretation of certain testing results continues to evolve. Although great strides have been made to advance the potential usefulness of genetic testing, there is still much to be discovered. Genetic testing is based upon information, developments and testing technique that are known today. Future research may reveal changes in the interpretation of previously obtained genetic testing results. For example, any genetic test is limited by the variants being tested. The interpretation of the significance of some variants may change as more research is done about them. Some variants that are associated with disease, drug response, or diet, nutrition and exercise response may not be tested; possibly these variants have not yet been identified in genetic studies.

Many of the health conditions that are tested are dependent on genetic factors as well as non-genetic factors such as age, personal health and family health history, diet, and ethnicity. As such, an individual may not exhibit the specific drug response, disease, or diet, nutrition and exercise response consistent with the genetic results. Based on test results and other medical knowledge of the test individual, health care professionals might consider additional independent testing, or consult another health care professional or genetic counsellor.

What is a CLIA Certification?

Certification of CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) is a certified document issued by The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ensuring quality laboratory testing. This is the strictest standard of the U.S. for the accuracy of laboratories.

Genetica’s laboratory is a CLIA certified clinical laboratory to conduct human’s saliva samples for genetic testing.

Learn more about CLIA Certification at: https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/clia

What is HIPAA law?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is the United States’ federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. This law is applied to all medical facilities, health insurance companies and relevant parties involved in individual medical records.

Genetica strictly conforms to HIPAA law in protecting user information. Customers who use our services receive a sample collection kit with a special Genetica ID. Each saliva sample has an ID that must be closely monitored during the genetic testing procedure. To determine whether the reports belong to you, please check the Genetica ID in the sample collection kit box with the Genetica ID printed/shown on your reports.

Learn more about the HIPAA law here: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html

What is the difference between cancer screening and genetic testing to identify cancer risk?

Cancer screening is a method used to identify cancer in the early stage. In contrast, genetic testing spots defects in genes that higher the risk of inherent cancer running in family generations. The risks can be found even when that person is currently healthy and does not have any symptoms.