Where do you ship to?

We are happy to deliver or arrange pick up in the City of Hamilton. 

Why a saliva and not a blood test?

You can see a blood test as a snapshot. A blood test tells you the state of your health at that very moment the blood was taken. Using your saliva, we can have the same amount of insight. Furthermore, we do not promote the idea that our customers breach their skin and inflict open wounds to themselves. Compared to that, providing us with a sample of your saliva is much easier and less invasive.

What is my kit ID?

Your kit ID can be found on the side of the test tube in your box and must either be scanned by the ID scanner in our app or manually entered upon registering through the app before sending your sample off. If you have not registered your kit ID by the time the sample reaches us, we will NOT be able to process the sample and you might have to provide another sample.

Who should get tested?

There are multiple reasons to do a genetic test, different people will want different things from genetic testing. The test relates heavily to people who want to take their sport or training to the next level by utilising the information to train smarter, eat smarter and understand their body. However anyone interested in bettering their health should get this test done; knowledge is power after all.

How reliable is genetic testing?

Our lab partner has done checks that DNA data coming out of the lab can be replicated in a different lab and that the results match. From all analyses of raw data, we find that we have a 99.99% accuracy on average, which is the gold standard. The interpretation of data is where most genetic companies differ. Our partner has an expert team made from the scientists in the lab, professional sports coaches, health professionals and sports nutritionists so that the interpretation is made from published research, in-company research and real world results.

How long will it take to get my results?

Upon receiving your sample in our laboratory, it usually takes between 3 to 4 weeks until your DNA results are available. You will be automatically informed about the receipt of your sample as well as the upload of your results.

Please note that due to the fact that the research and analysis of your epigenetic markers is a far more complicated and time-intensive procedure, it can take longer to provide you with your epigenetic results. We aim to provide you with your epigenetic results approximately 4 – 6 weeks after receiving your DNA results.

How do I do a test?

A DNA test is very easy to do.

All that’s needed is a simple saliva sample taken at home by spitting in to a tube (provided in the kit).

Your whole genetic story will be in these few cells. The sample is analysed in our laboratory and then experts in sports science, nutrition and health, who understand all the current research, interpret the results for you. Our DNA kit comes with a simple to follow instruction card to help you take your sample correctly.

Why do a genetic test?

As humans, we each have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes. Most genes are the same in all of us, but there will be differences in less than one percent of them, which is what makes us unique.

The science of genetics is helping us to understand what these small differences mean. We are all comfortable with the idea that our genes define our external characteristics – eye colour, height, hair colour, the size of your nose, etc. A genetic test reveals how genetics have defined your inner workings – how you metabolise food groups, which micronutrients your body efficiently absorbs and which ones it doesn’t, as well as your capacity for endurance, speed and strength.

We reveal 1,000 biogenetic markers that define your body makeup as it relates to health and fitness. That’s why genetic testing is becoming increasingly popular and useful.

What are genes and DNA?

A gene is a basic building block for all living things. Each gene is made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Like a recipe in a cook book, your DNA provides the instructions needed to build and maintain all the different parts of your body. DNA is like a set of chains – some long, some short – made up of four different types of molecules (nucleotides) that, for ease, are labelled A, C, G, and T.

A variation in the position of just one of these nucleotides in a DNA chain could make a difference to how your body works. These variations are called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism – pronounced ‘snip’). It is these differences that we look for in genetic testing and research.

What is epigenetics and how is it different from DNA?

Epigenetics controls how your genes behave. You are born with your genetic makeup, but you can affect your epigenetics through your lifestyle.

Epigenetics is the process by which the DNA methyltransferase (MTase) family of enzymes catalyze the transfer of a methyl group to DNA.

When the methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule, it can change the activity of a DNA segment (like a mutation) without changing the sequence inherited from parents.

Although your DNA does not change, MTase disrupts the activity of a DNA segment so it behaves in a different way, either amplifying positive change or mitigating negative potential.

How is my biological age different from my chronological age?

We actually have two ages: chronological age and biological age.

Your chronological age is the exact number of years that you have been alive, whereas your biological age is the true reflection of how your cells are ageing. Your biological age and internal health can be affected by your diet, exercise, lifestyle and environment.

Our partner's bioinformatics and science teams have identified the genes – as well as the specific biomarkers which sit upon them – that correlate to cellular ageing.

How can genetic testing help with sports and fitness?

Just as genes define your outer characteristics, they define your inner body makeup as well. Your capacity for strength, speed, fat loss and endurance are all shaped by your genes.

By discovering and exploiting your own, unique genetic landscape you will be able to optimise training, diet and recovery protocols for optimum performance in sport and exercise.

How secure is my genetic material and data?

All our customers’ genetic data is triple locked. First our customers are anonymous to us in the database. Each customer is given a unique ID number, it is only with this code that the customer can unlock the data and have it displayed on their private mobile app. Secondly all customer data is encrypted throughout the data journey. So if anyone were to capture our data it would be both anonymous and encrypted. Thirdly we store customer genetic data on secure AWS servers. Finally, we are compliant with the highly stringent European General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

What specifically is tested for?

Our partner reports on 1,000 biogenetic markers related to health and fitness. Including….

- Fitness and exercise: improve your overall fitness and training plans with a better understanding of your capacity for power, endurance, flexibility, increased muscle size (muscle hypertrophy), your lactate threshold and oxygen use (VO2 max), your respiration (ATP) recovery rate, injury recovery rate, lean body mass and power to weight ratio.

- Diet and nutrition: find a healthy, sustainable diet specifically designed for you though a better understanding of your responses to protein, total fats, unsaturated fats, carbohydrates, calorie restriction and exercise. These tests can also help you understand your daily need for calories, how to manage weight loss and your risks of obesity and yo-yo dieting.

- Health and wellbeing: your overall health can be significantly improved when you understand your risks for deficiencies in vitamins A, B6, B9, B12, and D as well as minerals such as magnesium and selenium.

- Our tests can also highlight your bone mineral density and how much calcium your body needs, as well as your responses to supplements intended to help with specific issues such as inflammation and collagen formation.

- Psychology: find out more about your body’s dopamine response, which can affect behaviour, cognition and motivation.

 What if I haven’t received my results yet?

Please email jennifer@epicislife.com

 What payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

 What are your credentials?

Epic is Life is a service of Healthcare Solutions which is registered with the Bermuda Health Council.  We have partnered with Muhdo to provide this testing.

 

 Didn’t find your question here?

Email us at jennifer@epicislife.com with any questions or feedback – we’d love to hear from you.