Genovate Review: Convenient At-Home DNA Tests?

Overview

1. Products: DNA testing.
2. Cost: $99 to $498.
3. Reports: Relationship, health, fitness, nutrition, trait, and ancestry reports.
4. Raw data access: Genovate does not make any statement regarding raw data access.
5. Privacy: Genovate claims not to share personal information with unaffiliated third parties.
6. Alternatives: SelfDecode delivers personalized health recommendations with just one DNA test.

Pros

• The company offers a wide variety of DNA tests.
• Ships worldwide.

Cons

• Users need to take multiple DNA tests if they wish to be tested for other conditions.
• The DNA tests are expensive.
• No raw data uploading.
• Does not offer personalized health recommendations.
• No advanced polygenic risk scoring
• Does not integrate labs or lifestyle data

About Genovate

According to their website, Genovate is a DNA testing company founded by Ph.D. scientists guided by an evidence-based approach. However, there are no information available about the founders.

The company claims to be one of the first laboratories to implement a buccal swab DNA collection method in routine casework. Their laboratory Genetrack boasts over 500 facilities across the United States and claims to process over 120,000 cases annually.

Review of Genovate Products & Features

Genovate has DNA tests for health, wellness, ancestry, and biological relationships. The company offers a mouth swab for sample collection. As seen in the screenshot below, their genetic tests are divided into 5 categories.

The Relationship tests help users determine the biological relationship between two or more people. They include paternity and maternity tests, and more.

The Diet & Fitness tests deliver information about fitness, nutrition, and food sensitivities. The company also offers the DNA Weight Loss Test that includes information on your weight.

The Health & Disease category includes tests for several health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, cardiovascular health, and others.

Genovate’s Ancestry tests covers both maternal and paternal ancestry tests, which can be purchased separately or in a combo.

The Behavior & Traits tests give insights into how DNA influences your personality. For example, the Warrior Gene Test explains if the user carries a genetic variant that makes them aggressive and business savvy.

The genetic tests offered by Genovate examine each health condition and trait separately. The samples submitted by the user are analyzed specifically for the test purchased. If you wish to get reports on different conditions, you’ll need to purchase separate DNA testing kits, submit multiple samples, and wait for your sample to be processed by the lab. 

As an example of what each test covers, the Cardiovascular Health Test analyzes genetic variants linked to lipid levels such as cholesterol and triglycerides. The Nutrition Test investigates the genes associated with the absorption and usage of certain vitamins and minerals.

Review of Genovate Reports

Genovate does not provide sample reports on their website, so you might be left unsure about what you’ll receive with your reports. Users can access their results on their online account or request a copy via mail or email.

As an example of the health topics covered by the reports, the screenshot below displays the traits analyzed by the DNA Fitness Test. The company provides information related to your overall athletic performance.

According to their website, the fitness report includes insights on which exercise is most beneficial to the user’s muscle type. It provides information on the risk of soft tissue injury and the user’s pain tolerance. Additionally, the company offers access to the Genofit app, which allows you to set and track your fitness goals.

The DNA Weight Loss Test informs the user about their sensitivity to starch, motivation to exercise, tendency to have high blood sugar. Genovate states that the information provided in this report can be used to optimize diet and exercise for weight loss.

Overall, the comapany does not offer guidance to help you manage your genetic predispositions, so if you’re interested in health recommendations based on your DNA, you might need to look elsewhere.

Cost of Genovate

Genovate prices vary depending on which test you order. Price ranges are the following for each test category:

• Relationship: $99 to $150
• Health & Disease: $195 to $349 
• Diet & Fitness: $149 to $249

The company offers a bundle pack that includes the Nutrition, Weight Loss, and Fitness tests for $498. The Behavior & Traits tests cost $149 each, and the Ancestry tests are on the market for $119.

Health Recommendations from Genovate

Since Genovate does not offer a sample report on their website, it is unclear the extent of the information provided by them. The company states that their DNA tests can help people modify their lifestyle to improve their health, but does not offer recommendations to help you address your issues.

The Fitness, Nutrition, and Weight Loss tests include access to the Genofit app, which allows you to set and track goals.

SNP Analysis vs PRS vs Advanced PRS

Genovate primarily relies on single SNP analysis, examining one or a few genetic variants per test. This approach provides limited insights and often requires purchasing multiple tests to understand different aspects of your health.

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) improve on this by combining information from multiple genetic variants to predict the likelihood of developing certain conditions. While PRS is more accurate than single SNP analysis, it still may not capture the full complexity of your genetics or account for interactions between genes, ancestry, and environmental factors.

Advanced PRS, like the system used by SelfDecode, takes this a step further. Millions of genetic variants are analyzed per report, with predictions adjusted for ancestry and integrated with lab results, symptoms, and other health data.

This allows for highly accurate risk assessments and actionable, personalized recommendations for diet, supplements, lifestyle, and overall wellness. Unlike Genovate, SelfDecode doesn’t just show which genes you have; it explains what the results mean and how to apply them to improve your health, providing a truly holistic and science-backed approach.

• Read more: Why Advanced Polygenic Risk Scores Outperform Significant SNP Analysis

Genovate Reviews

Despite the many years in business, online reviews for Genovate are limited regarding the health and wellness tests. 4 Facebook customers rated the company 1 of 5 stars. Users complain about delayed results and say that customer support needs improvement.

In 2020, the company announced that they would release a DNA COVID-19 Susceptibility test to help determine if the person has an increased risk of respiratory complications from the virus.

Alternatives to Genovate

For those looking for a more advanced and comprehensive approach to DNA-based health insights, SelfDecode stands out as a superior alternative to Genovate. Unlike Genovate, which analyzes only a limited number of genetic variants per test, SelfDecode uses ancestry-adjusted polygenic risk scoring—published in a Nature journal—to provide the most accurate predictions of conditions and traits in the industry.

SelfDecode integrates millions of variants per report with advanced AI, taking into account your symptoms, lab results, and existing conditions to deliver personalized, actionable recommendations.

The platform’s predictive models are validated by six published studies in top-tier journals, ensuring that your results are backed by rigorous scientific research. With over 200 million variants actively analyzed and more than 1,500 detailed health reports available, SelfDecode offers unparalleled quality and comprehensiveness.

In addition to genetic data, SelfDecode supports multiomics analysis, meaning blood tests can be integrated with genetic insights to provide even more precise recommendations. Privacy and security are also prioritized, with full HIPAA and GDPR compliance.

While building such a sophisticated system requires significant investment (over $25 million) this ensures that users receive a level of depth, accuracy, and reliability that cheaper alternatives cannot match.

For anyone seeking personalized health recommendations they can act on immediately, SelfDecode provides a holistic, science-driven approach far beyond the scope of Genovate’s tests.

Genovate Review Summary

Genovate offers DNA tests to confirm biological relationships as well as health and wellness tests. They state that their laboratory is one of the largest genetic testing facilities in North America and has been in business for over 20 years.

With over 500 laboratory facilities across the United States, the company provides convenient DNA tests for various health conditions and traits. However, each test requires a separate sample collection. For people who wish to get multiple tests, it can be quite expensive. Plus, Genovate does not offer personalized recommendations to help you address your genetic predispositions.

If you wish for a more holistic approach to health, SelfDecode might be a better option. The SelfDecode analyzes up to 200 million genetic variants related to give you personalized recommendations based on your DNA. Not only that, with SelfDecode, you’ll get access to over 1,500 DNA reports to help you optimize your overall health.

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