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Important Update: Vitagene Service Discontinuation
As of 2024, Vitagene has discontinued its DNA testing product line and ceased operations. While the company previously offered genetic testing services focused on health, ancestry, and personalized wellness recommendations, these products are no longer available for purchase. This article remains available for historical reference and to assist existing customers in understanding their past test results.
Former Vitagene customers can access their archived results through the 1Health portal (https://vitagene.app.1health.io) for approximately 12 months after testing. The company recommends consulting with certified genetic counselors for result interpretation. Customers who purchased kits through third-party retailers should contact their original place of purchase for refund-related inquiries. Raw DNA data remains downloadable through the customer portal, allowing users to transfer their genetic information to other testing services if desired.
Vitagene offered some pretty good insights into my DNA, despite it being fairly broad. But for the price it’s asking, I’m satisfied with the results even if they aren’t as specific as other genetic tests.
Although the reports aren’t too detailed, they do cover a good amount of categories like diet and exercise on top of ancestry. Plus, it uses a cheek swab so you don’t have to worry about getting a blood sample.
Overall, it’s a great starting point for anyone looking to discover themselves further via their DNA.
Vitagene has various pros and cons. We compiled these based on our impressions and online reviews.
| Pros | Cons |
| Straightforward and non-invasive | Surface-level reports |
| A trustworthy CLIA-approved product | May not cover certain health conditions or genetic traits that interest you |
| Quick and helpful customer service | Cost extra to upload raw data |
| Provides personalized information about disease risks, health, and other traits | Does not ship internationally |
| Doesn’t require approval from a healthcare professional or insurance provider | |
| Less expensive compared to other DNA tests |
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Vitagene uses genotyping for accurate results, and because it’s CLIA-approved, it’s also very thorough. Vitagene offers various tests aside from health and ancestry. These include:
Once you purchase one of the Vitagene testing products, you will receive an email that contains guidelines on how to fill out your online lifestyle questionnaire. You should receive a DNA testing kit with a pre-paid return stamp within three to five days.
Follow the instructions provided with the kit and return your sample. After that, Vitagene’s scientists will analyze your questionnaire and DNA sample. Results are issued on an online dashboard in 4-6 weeks.
The package comes with a prepaid return envelope, so submitting your sample is hassle and cost-free. Although Vitagene does not ship outside the United States, there are plans to expand the service, but you may need to join an international waiting list.
If you already have a raw DNA file from another service, you just need to purchase a health report instead of doing the test. You will then receive credentials to an online account and detailed guidance on uploading your DNA file. Keep in mind that Vitagene will only accept files uploaded in the .txt format.
It uses a cheek swab so don’t eat or drink anything for at least half an hour before taking the samples. Doing so could affect the accuracy of your results.
Vitagene’s clinical labs operate under strict standards. These were set forth by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 and the College of American Pathologists.
This is to ensure accuracy and reliability. Clients’ DNA is run through a sophisticated, proprietary algorithm.
The DNA is compared to an extensive database of the world’s best peer-reviewed research on nutrition, genomics, and exercise. Your unique health information is then mapped to nutrition, diet, and supplementation plans that suit your specific health needs.
Vitagene has suffered breaches in the past. However, it uses industry-standard security protocols to store and safeguard client DNA profiles, results, and any other information it may share.
Every bit of personal information is kept in a secure cloud storage facility, and the company doesn’t share any of it with third parties without explicit consent. Vitagene doesn’t willingly honor law enforcement requests. Nor do they share data with public databases or entities that might make it available to those agencies.
However, in specific circumstances, the company may be compelled by law to honor a valid court order, search warrant, or subpoena for personal or genetic information. It’s worth noting that the company has never received law enforcement requests to share genetic data in a legal proceeding.
You can buy Vitagene’s Health and Ancestry test and their other tests on their website.
Diet report: This mainly provides meal plan suggestions. It includes reports on specific gastrointestinal aspects like gluten sensitivity. It can also tell how well your body processes caffeine or fat. The report also shares gene mutations and other markers in your genes that affect your metabolism.
Supplement report: This report provides guidance on the supplement recommendations your body needs. This is supported by detailed explanations based on your genetic makeup.
Exercise report: This section addresses your body's ability to create muscle and how you react to exercise. It also proposes what kinds of exercise are ideal for your body.
Ancestry report: The ancestry report provides ancestry information. It can identify matches to next of kin within the past five generations.
After you've done a test and received your Vitagene reports, you can order customized supplements. They contain everything from hormones to minerals and vitamins. The prices are not readily available on the website.
Your choice will largely depend on whether you’ve ever had a genetic test, the level of detail you need, and whether you need supplements.
Vitagene and 23andMe are leading names in the industry. Both have excellent reputations, but they don’t offer the same health reports or tests.
Here is a table that allows you to see the similarities and differences between the two DNA testing providers:
| Vitagene | 23andMe | |
| Insights | Health & Supplemental Care | Personal Traits |
| Sample | Cheek Swab | Saliva |
| Results | 4-6 weeks | 6-8 weeks |
| Tests | Autosomal, Health | Autosomal, Genealogy, mtDNA, Y-DNA |
| Cousin/Family Matching | No | Yes |
| Health Screening | Yes | Yes |
| Express Shipping | No | Yes |
| Security | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $49 to $149 | $99 to $199 |
| Report includes | Ancestry breakdown; detailed diet report; and customized food, fitness, and supplement plans. | Ancestry composition; haplogroups; Neanderthal ancestry; DNA family and DNA relative finder. |
Vitagene offers action plans that are easy to follow and provide detailed information on your genetic makeup. It’s wholly customized to your individual needs, and it’s a good way to get a general idea of your genetic predisposition.
Vitagene health test results will help you improve your sleep, weight, and energy levels. This may be accomplished through exercise, nutrition, and supplementation. Overall, it’s a great starting point for anyone trying out DNA tests.
KnowYourDNA is committed to making healthcare more accessible to the public, which is why we feature products that meet industry standards. We only choose at-home kits that provide reliable testing methods and science-backed reports to improve your health.
Our in-house medical experts help ensure the accuracy of the information we give to our readers by reviewing them before publication. We based our recommendations on:
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