FAQ

Understanding DNA and Your Health

dnaPower helps you understand how your unique genes influence your nutrition, fitness, and overall health. Our reports translate your genetic data into personalized, action steps to support long-term wellness.

Your genes influence how your body handles food, exercise, inflammation, detoxification, and more. dnaPower identifies common genetic variations that may increase health risks so you can make proactive, informed lifestyle choices.

DNA is your body’s blueprint. By analyzing key genes involved in nutrition, metabolism, brain health, fitness performance, and detoxification, dnaPower helps you understand how your body functions so you can optimize daily decisions that impact long-term health.

Methylation is a natural process in your body that helps regulate how your genes function. It supports many important processes, including energy production, detoxification, hormone balance, brain health, and immune function. Your genetics can influence how efficiently your methylation pathways work, which may affect your individual health and nutritional needs.

We test over 250 health and wellness genes in 80+ categories to identify areas where your body may need additional support. This insight helps you make informed choices that support prevention and longevity.

Prevention starts with understanding your body’s unique needs. dnaPower helps you maintain long-term health by revealing how you process nutrients, respond to inflammation, detoxify, methylate, and much more.

Your genes influence how you metabolize nutrients, build muscle, recover from exercise, burn fat, and respond to different training styles. dnaPower shows you what is likely to work best for your body. This reduces guesswork in your wellness plan.

dnaPower focuses on actionable, preventative wellness genetics. We provide comprehensive analysis of 250+ variations related to nutrition, fitness, methylation, metabolism, and general wellness — areas where lifestyle changes can make a measurable difference in your life. Every totalPower kit includes a professional consultation to ensure you get the most from your results. Your data is never shared or sold.

DNA sequencing reads your genetic code to uncover variations that may affect your health, nutrition, fitness, and metabolism.

We analyze genes linked to metabolism, cardiovascular tendencies, detoxification pathways, methylation efficiency, fitness performance, nutrient absorption, brain health, and general wellness.

Our scientific team selects genetic markers based on peer-reviewed research, focusing on markers related to health and disease prevention.

Polygenic scoring combines information from multiple genetic markers to provide a more accurate and comprehensive health picture. Rather than relying on a single variation, this method reflects the combined influence of several genes for deeper insight.

No. DNA testing is based on genetic sequencing. It is far more precise and science-based, providing personalized insights unique to you.

Anyone can take a dnaPower test! We’ve tested newborn babies to centenarians. Parental consent is required for individuals under 18.

Absolutely! dnaPower kits make meaningful wellness gifts that show you care about someone’s long-term health.

Sample Collection

Easily! Use the cheek swab included in your kit at home by following the simple instructions.

In Canada, return your sample using the stamped return mailer included in your kit. International customers can follow the return instructions provided.

Completely safe and non-invasive. A simple cheek swab provides all the DNA required for testing.

Eating or drinking may temporarily affect cell collection. Avoid food, water, beverages, and teeth brushing for 30 minutes before swabbing to ensure optimal results.

Unopened kits last for years. Collected samples remain stable in the preservation solution for months. However, we recommend mailing your sample promptly after collection.

Yes. With totalPower Connect, you can upload raw data from 23andMe, Ancestry, or other compatible providers and receive your dnaPower wellness report within 48 hours.

Most insurance plans do not currently cover wellness DNA testing. However, some health plans include a Health Spending Account (HSA), which may allow reimbursement. Please confirm with your provider.

Understanding Your Results

Results are typically ready 2–4 weeks after we receive your sample.

Our reports are designed to be simple, clear and practical. Your totalPower kit includes a 45-minute consultation to review your individual results and answer your questions.

Not at all. Genetic variations are common and part of normal human diversity. They indicate tendencies, not certainties. Awareness allows you to support your body proactively.

No. dnaPower testing identifies predispositions and may help you identify where you are more likely to have issues over time. However, it is provided for informational purposes and is not a medical diagnoses. If you are experiencing symptoms or illness, please consult your healthcare provider.

Our focus is preventative wellness. We analyze genes related to nutrition, metabolism, cardiovascular support, detoxification, and brain health. Some genes may have research connections to more serious conditions, but our goal is lifestyle-based prevention rather than disease diagnosis.

In many cases, yes. Genetics may influence tendencies, but lifestyle strongly influences gene expression. Nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and environmental exposures all play powerful roles.

Your DNA does not change, so genetic testing is typically done once in a lifetime. Other testing such as microbiome or epigenetic testing may be repeated over time to monitor changes.

The markers included in dnaPower reports are selected based on peer-reviewed research. dnaPower testing is a wellness and educational tool and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease.

Yes. dnaPower reports are easy to share and can help healthcare professionals tailor nutrition, supplement, and fitness plans within their professional scope.

Clients often discover new insights and adjust their nutrition, supplement protocols, exercise routines, and recovery strategies. Many report improvements in energy, digestion, mental clarity, and overall wellness.

Understanding Your Microbiome Test

The gut microbiome is the community of microorganisms—including bacteria, fungi, and other microbes—that live in your digestive tract. These microorganisms play important roles in digestion, nutrient metabolism, immune function, and overall health. Everyone’s microbiome is unique and can be influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, medications, age, and environment.

This test analyzes the bacteria living in your gut microbiome and provides insights into your digestive health, microbiome balance, and factors that may influence metabolism, inflammation, and overall wellness. Your report also includes practical guidance on nutrition and lifestyle strategies that may help support a healthier gut environment.

A gut microbiome test may be helpful for anyone who wants to better understand their digestive health and how their diet and lifestyle may be influencing their gut. It can provide personalized insights into the microorganisms in your gut and help identify practical areas to discuss with a qualified healthcare professional. The test is intended for wellness education and does not diagnose medical conditions.

Your microbiome test includes a personalized 45-minute Microbiome Report Review with one of our trained consultants. During this session, we will walk you through the key findings in your report, help you understand your microbiome patterns, highlight the most important areas to focus on, and provide general nutrition and lifestyle guidance to support gut health and overall wellness. The review is educational and intended to help you better understand your results and next steps. It does not include diagnosis, medical treatment, extensive health history review, or fully individualized supplement/protocol planning. If more in-depth clinical interpretation or personalized support is desired, additional private consultations or referrals may be recommended.

Your microbiome can change over time in response to diet, lifestyle, medications, illness, and other factors. Retesting may help you observe how it has changed after making adjustments based on your results. The appropriate timing depends on your goals, but it is generally best to allow enough time for consistent changes to take effect before testing again.

Many microbiome tests focus primarily on bacteria, which provides only a partial view of your gut health. Our test goes further by analyzing your entire gut ecosystem — including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even parasites that may influence digestion, energy, and overall well-being.

Using advanced shotgun DNA sequencing, we identify all microbial DNA present in your sample, rather than looking at just one category of organisms. This allows us to uncover imbalances or contributors that may be missed by more limited testing approaches.

The result is a more complete and actionable understanding of your gut health — because real insight comes from seeing the full picture.

Shotgun Metagenomics is the high-resolution, deep-dive equivalent of a full genomic scan. Unlike 16S sequencing, which only looks at a specific bacterial "ID card," Shotgun sequencing breaks all the DNA in your sample into tiny fragments and sequences everything.

This technique doesn't just identify bacteria; it captures DNA from viruses, fungi, protozoa, archaea, and parasites, providing a complete ecosystem map. Most importantly, it looks at functional genes to determine what your microbes are actually doing—such as their ability to produce vitamins, digest specific fibers, or create inflammatory byproducts.

Yes. Your personal information and test results are kept confidential and securely stored in Canada using encrypted systems. It is never sold to a third party.

At Microbiome Insights, we have a security-first culture when it comes to dealing with your data and we are committed to treating it with the highest levels of privacy and security.

We use a HIPAA-compliant cloud-based infrastructure.
We use secure encryption everywhere, by default. All of our Data is encrypted during transfer and storage at all times.
Our privacy and security policies are periodically reviewed and adjusted to make sure we are complying with the applicable provincial and federal laws including PIPEDA, PIPA and GDPR.

Your microbiome sample is processed by Microbiome Insights, an experienced Canadian laboratory based in Richmond, BC. The lab is CAP-accredited and meets CLIA quality requirements, following internationally recognized standards for laboratory accuracy, quality control, and testing procedures.

Your sample is used only to complete your microbiome analysis. Once testing is finished, the sample is securely discarded according to laboratory and regulatory protocols.

No special preparation is usually required. However, certain factors such as antibiotics or major dietary changes may influence your microbiome results. Instructions are included in the kit to help you collect your sample properly.

If you are currently taking antibiotics or have recently completed a course of antibiotics, please be aware that the test results may not accurately reflect your gut microbiome composition during antibiotic treatment or immediately afterward. It is recommended to wait for a sufficient period after completing antibiotic therapy before taking the test to obtain a more representative snapshot of your gut microbiome.

To ensure the most accurate and meaningful results, it’s important to collect your sample when your gut microbiome is in a stable, “baseline” state. Certain situations can temporarily alter your microbiome and may affect your results.

Please consider waiting to take your test if any of the following apply:

You are currently sick (e.g., cold, flu, gastrointestinal illness) or have recently recovered
You are traveling or have recently traveled (changes in diet, environment, and routine can impact your microbiome)
You are taking antibiotics or have recently completed a course (ideally wait at least 3–4 weeks after finishing)
You have recently had surgery or are in the recovery phase
You have had a significant change in diet or lifestyle (e.g., starting a new diet, supplements, or intense training program)

No. This test is designed to provide wellness insights about your gut microbiome and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure medical conditions. If you have health concerns, you should consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Yes. The gut microbiome is dynamic and can change in response to diet, lifestyle, and other factors. Your report provides guidance to help support beneficial bacteria and overall gut balance. If you implement the recommended diet and lifestyle changes, we suggest re-testing after 3–6 months to see how your gut microbiome may have changed over time.

Once the lab receives your sample, results are typically available within 4-8 weeks. You will be notified as soon as your report is ready.

1. Get Set Up
Have your kit open and ready before you begin. Make sure the collection tube is open, and instructions are within reach. Empty your bladder and flush toilet.

2. Catch the Sample
Use folded toilet paper in the bowl to help catch the stool (optional). DO NOT touch the swab on porcelain. Minimize stool touching toilet water.

3. Take a Small Scrape
Pull the swab out of the tube and gently scrape a small amount from the surface of the stool. You only need a little – the size of a small pea. You’re not filling the tube. In fact, less is better than too much. The lab only needs a tiny amount to analyze accurately, and overfilling can actually interfere with the test.

4. Seal the Sample
Place the swab back into the tube and close the lid tightly so it’s secure and leak-proof. Place the tube in the biohazard bag provided.

5. Send It Off
Mail your sample as soon as possible so it can be processed quickly and accurately.

It’s best to avoid getting urine or toilet water on the stool sample. Try urinating first and then take the stool sample.

Understanding Your Pharmacogenetic Test

Pharmacogenetic testing examines specific genetic variations that may influence how your body processes and responds to certain medications. Because people can metabolize the same medication differently, these insights can support more personalized and informed conversations with your healthcare provider.

pharmaPower provides insights into how your genetics may affect the metabolism and response of certain commonly prescribed medications. Your report can help you and your healthcare provider better understand potential differences in medication response, effectiveness, and sensitivity. It does not determine which medication you should take.

No. You should never start, stop, or change the dose of a medication based only on your pharmaPower results. Genetics is one of several factors that can affect medication response, so your results should be reviewed with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your complete medical history. The FDA similarly advises patients not to adjust medications without consulting their prescriber

The pharmaPower report covers over 110 medications across a wide range of clinical areas, including cardiology, diabetology, gastroenterology, hematology, immunology, infectious disease, neurology, oncology, psychiatry, urology, and general medicine. It provides personalized insights into how your genetics may influence the way your body processes the medications included in the test.

No. You do not need to be taking medication at the time of testing. Because your inherited genetic information generally does not change, your results may remain useful for future conversations with healthcare professionals if one of the medications covered by the test is considered.

No. pharmaPower does not diagnose, treat, prevent, or predict medical conditions. It provides pharmacogenetic information that may help support discussions with a qualified healthcare professional about medications included in the report.

Medication response can be influenced by genetics, age, overall health, other medications, diet, lifestyle, and additional clinical factors. Genetic variations may affect how quickly or slowly certain medications are processed, but genetics is only one part of the complete picture.

Keep your report as part of your personal health information and share it with your physician, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare professional when discussing medications covered by the test. Your provider can consider the results alongside your health history, current medications, symptoms, and other relevant factors.

I would order the three landing-page questions exactly as shown: what it is → what it tells you → how the results should be used. dnaPower currently describes pharmaPower as a test that helps people understand how their DNA may influence medication response and supports informed care conversations.

Privacy and Data Protection

You. Your data is private unless you choose to share it with a healthcare professional.

No. dnaPower does not ever sell or share your genetic data.

Data is protected using secure encryption and stored in Canada under strict privacy standards.

Samples are identified by barcode only in the lab. They are stored securely for a limited period for potential retesting and then destroyed in accordance with Canadian privacy regulations.

In Canada, the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act protects you. Insurers cannot request or use your genetic test results. Regulations may differ in other countries.

No. dnaPower is a wellness and educational genetic test. It does not diagnose, treat, or prevent disease. Your health practitioners may provide within their professional scope of practice.

Our mission is to empower proactive, lifestyle-based health decisions. Rather than focus on rare diseases, dnaPower emphasizes everyday choices — nutrition, exercise, metabolism, detoxification, and aging — where you have meaningful control and opportunity to influence your overall health.