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Genetic Testing for Health

Genetic testing for health looks at small differences in your DNA, called genetic variants, and what’s currently known about them.[1][6] At The Vitality Collective, genetic testing is paired with a focused blood panel and a written report, and we walk through the report with you. The test is provided by Genomic Dietetics & Performance Corp, which processes the sample and prepares the written report. This page explains what the test looks at, what results can and can’t tell you, and what to ask about your genetic data before you order.

I’m Charles Chancio III, the founder. I’m not a clinician, so this page is general education, not medical advice. Results from this kind of test don’t diagnose anything on their own, and we don’t promise results.

What genetic testing looks at

We offer genetic testing. It looks at a set of common genetic variants, including variants related to how the body handles:

  • cholesterol and other blood fats
  • blood sugar and insulin
  • inflammation signaling
  • folate and vitamin B12
  • vitamin D
  • iron
  • omega-3 fats
  • lactose digestion

It’s paired with a focused blood panel that measures hs-CRP, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c, homocysteine, ferritin, ApoB and vitamin D. You’ll get a written report, and we’ll walk through it with you so you understand what it covers. The report may include supplement, peptide, nutrition or lifestyle suggestions from the testing company. The Vitality Collective doesn’t review or endorse them, and our walkthrough explains what the report covers without recommending any supplement, dose or treatment. Talk with a licensed clinician before acting on them. That walkthrough is education, not medical advice or genetic counseling.

What genetic results can and can’t tell you

  • Results show which variants you carry and what’s currently known about them. They don’t diagnose a condition on their own, and they can’t tell you for certain what will happen to your health, because many health conditions also depend on lifestyle and environment.
  • Results usually need to be confirmed with clinical testing ordered through a healthcare provider before they’re used for medical decisions.
  • Genetic results aren’t a substitute for lab work or for a conversation with a licensed clinician. Talk with a licensed clinician before you change medications or your diet based on them.

Results can include information about disease risk

Some of the variants tested are linked in research to the risk of certain medical conditions.[6] Carrying one doesn’t mean you have the condition or will develop it, and a result that shows lower risk doesn’t mean you never will.[7] It also affects what your relatives may have inherited.[3] If a result raises a medical question, talk with a genetic counselor or a licensed clinician. Think about whether you want this kind of information before you order.

Your genetic data

Your DNA is unique to you, and it’s partly shared with your relatives. Before you order, ask how Genomic Dietetics & Performance Corp and its lab store your sample and genetic data, who they’re shared with, whether they’re used for research, and whether you can have them deleted. A federal law, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), limits how health insurers and employers with 15 or more employees can use genetic information. It doesn’t cover life, disability or long-term care insurance.

Frequently asked questions

What can a genetic test tell me about my health?

Results show which variants you carry and what’s currently known about them. They don’t diagnose a condition on their own, and they can’t tell you for certain what will happen to your health, because many health conditions also depend on lifestyle and environment.

Is the walkthrough the same as genetic counseling?

No. You’ll get a written report, and we’ll walk through it with you so you understand what it covers. The report may include supplement, peptide, nutrition or lifestyle suggestions from the testing company. The Vitality Collective doesn’t review or endorse them, and our walkthrough explains what the report covers without recommending any supplement, dose or treatment. Talk with a licensed clinician before acting on them. That walkthrough is education, not medical advice or genetic counseling. If a result raises a medical question, talk with a genetic counselor or a licensed clinician.

Can genetic testing affect my health insurance or my job?

A federal law, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), limits how health insurers and employers with 15 or more employees can use genetic information. It doesn’t cover life, disability or long-term care insurance.

How is genetic testing different from a lab panel?

A lab panel measures markers in your blood at the time of the draw, so results can change over time. Genetic testing looks at variants in your DNA, which generally stay the same throughout your life. Neither one diagnoses anything on its own.

What should I do if a result raises a medical question?

Talk with a genetic counselor or a licensed clinician. Results usually need to be confirmed with clinical testing ordered through a healthcare provider before they’re used for medical decisions. Genetic results aren’t a substitute for lab work or for a conversation with a licensed clinician.

Who can see my genetic data?

Your DNA is unique to you, and it’s partly shared with your relatives. Before you order, ask how Genomic Dietetics & Performance Corp and its lab store your sample and genetic data, who they’re shared with, whether they’re used for research, and whether you can have them deleted.

Next steps

Available nationwide.

Questions before you order? Request a private call with me, Charles, the founder. I’m not a clinician, and the call isn’t a medical appointment, but it’s a good place to ask how genetic testing works and what to ask the testing company about your data. You can also look at our lab panels or see all services.

Sources

  1. MedlinePlus Genetics (U.S. National Library of Medicine). What is genetic testing? https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/testing/genetictesting/
  2. MedlinePlus Genetics. What should I know before proceeding with direct-to-consumer genetic testing? https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcknow/
  3. MedlinePlus Genetics. What are the risks and limitations of genetic testing? https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/testing/riskslimitations/
  4. National Human Genome Research Institute (NIH). Genetic Discrimination (GINA). https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genetic-Discrimination
  5. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Genetic Information Discrimination. https://www.eeoc.gov/genetic-information-discrimination
  6. MedlinePlus Genetics. What is a gene variant and how do variants occur? https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/mutationsanddisorders/genemutation/
  7. MedlinePlus Genetics. What do the results of direct-to-consumer genetic testing mean? https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcresults/

Educational information only, not medical advice. Charles Chancio III is the founder of The Vitality Collective and is not a clinician. For anything medical, talk with a licensed clinician. Available nationwide. In an emergency, call 911.

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