Overview
- Products: genetic imputation, DNA analysis tools.
- Cost: Free, but users who donate to the website get priority access to the results.
- Reports: Genetic risk score calculators, health reports.
- Raw data access: Impute.me does not offer DNA testing and requires users to have access to their raw DNA data.
- Privacy: Claims not to transfer, sell, or give away user data to any third parties.
- Alternatives: SelfDecode – get personalized health recommendations based on your genes.
Pros
- Impute.me is free to use
- Offers polygenic risk score calculators
Cons
- Processing of genome files may take days
- Does not provide any personalized health recommendations based on DNA
- Does not offer DNA testing
- No published research validating their methods
- Does not integrate multiomics data (only limited SNP analysis)
- The website is not very intuitive, and the results may require some previous knowledge in genetics to understand
About Impute.me
Impute.me is a non-profit genetics analysis website run by Danish geneticists. The website started in 2015 and is led by Lasse Folkersen, Ph.D. They offer imputation of data from major DNA providers and other DNA analyses tools. The website code and how the genetic analysis is done are open-source and available for anyone to see.
Review of Impute.me Products & Features
Impute.me does not offer DNA testing of their own. Instead, they require users to have access to their raw genetic data before using the site. All tools available are free to use.
When you first access the website, it’s not very clear what actions you need to take to get started. By accessing the Modules tab on the navigation bar, you can view the tools offered, and only then Impute.me directs you to the section of the website where you can upload your raw DNA data.
Users don’t need to create an account to upload their data. Only an email address is required for the processed data to be sent back to them. After the data is processed, Impute.me sends an email with further instructions on how to access the data.
The email also contains a link for donations to the website via PayPal. Those who choose to donate to the website will be moved to the top of the processing queue and receive priority access to their results. Keep in mind that it may take several days for Impute.me to finish processing your DNA data.
After your results are ready, you can explore the tools offered by the website. The modules are:
- Complex Diseases
- Precision Medicine
- UK-biobank calculator
- Appearance
- Ancestry
- Drug response
- Rare Diseases
- Mutation senser
- BRCA
- Politics
- Kandiskyfy yourself
- Athletic performance
Review of Impute.me Reports
It may take several days for the uploaded genome file to be processed, depending on the server waiting queue. After the file is uploaded, you will receive an email explaining how many other users are waiting in the queue, and the expected amount of time you will need to wait for your results.
Impute.me will email you with further instructions when the processing is complete. Users can then download their imputed data and browse the website by using the uniqueID number provided.
Impute.me has various test reports, but in this article, we will be discussing the Complex Diseases and Athletic Performance modules.
Complex Diseases: The GWAS Calculator
To get started with the Complex Diseases: The GWAS Calculator, you will need to input your Unique ID number, provided to you after your genome has been processed. Impute.me offers an analysis of various traits, which are presented in alphabetical order for you to choose from.
The health risks are shown in charts. The image below represents a user’s genetic risk score for coronary artery disease relative to Impute.me’s user distribution. Each score is calculated based on a scientific study, which is also provided by the website.
Impute.me also provides a table containing the most significant SNPs as a calculation example, but they claim that the score is based on more genetic variants than what is presented. The table is not very user-friendly and was probably intended for people who have some previous knowledge in genetics.
From the table, you can find a column that indicates your genotype and another that shows the risk and non-risk allele. This allows Impute.me users to understand which particular allele might cause the likelihood of a disease.
Although the table format is a good way to present complicated information, the data may not be easily comprehended by a regular person who lacks strong knowledge of genetics. The report also doesn’t provide any health recommendations to help you address your genetic predispositions.
The number of SNPs analyzed for each trait can vary from half a dozen to a few thousand, depending on which study the report was based on.
Athletic Performance
Another DNA analysis offered by Impute.me is the Athletic Performance tool. Here, you will find a list of fitness-related SNPs, your genotype, and a brief description of the variant.
The website also provides a table containing genetic risk scores for a number of injuries and dietary needs.
Similar to the Complex Diseases module, Impute.me does not provide any recommedations to help you optimize your health based on your genetic results. You will simply receive the number of SNPs you have related to a particular trait and your genetic risk score.
For the most up-to-date information about Impute.me, please visit their official website.]
Cost of Impute.me
Impute.me is free to use, but the website urges people to make donations if they can. As an encouragement to donations, the Impute.me has a priority queue for processing genome files. Users who make donations of at least $5 can bypass this queue and move up the waiting list to have priority access to their results.
Health Recommendations from Impute.me
Impute.me doesn’t provide feedback to users based on their test reports. Instead, you will be limited to finding out what your risk is compared to other people, and what genetic variants you carry based on your imputed genetic data.
Despite analyzing many actionable SNPs, the website doesn’t offer any health recommendations to help users optimize their health, so you’ll need to figure out what you can do to address your genetic predispositions alone or by consulting with a healthcare practitioner.
SNP Analysis vs Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) vs Advanced PRS
Impute.me primarily focuses on analyzing individual SNPs and calculating polygenic risk scores based on these variants. Each report generally looks at a limited number of SNPs per trait, ranging from a handful to a few thousand, and generates a risk score for complex diseases or traits. While this approach can highlight certain genetic predispositions, it does not provide actionable insights or prioritize which genetic factors are most relevant to improving your health.
Users receive a snapshot of their risk but are left to interpret the data themselves, often requiring a background in genetics to understand the results. Importantly, Impute.me does not provide any published, peer-reviewed research to validate the accuracy or effectiveness of its methods.
SelfDecode takes this analysis a step further. Rather than examining one gene or a few thousand SNPs in isolation, SelfDecode employs advanced PRS models and machine learning to analyze up to 200 million genetic variants. This allows the platform to assess the cumulative effects of multiple genes across the genome, delivering far more accurate risk predictions for complex conditions. Additionally, SelfDecode prioritizes the most relevant genetic factors for each user and translates them into personalized, actionable recommendations. These can include targeted diet, supplement, and lifestyle changes designed to optimize health outcomes based on your unique genetic profile.
This approach is referred to as “Advanced PRS” in the context of SelfDecode. It not only evaluates disease risk more comprehensively than basic SNP analysis or standard PRS calculators but also provides clear guidance on what to do with that information, something Impute.me and many other tools do not offer. In short, while Impute.me can inform you about your genetic risk for a condition, SelfDecode tells you which genetic factors matter most and how to address them with practical, science-backed recommendations. Read more here.
Review of Impute.me Privacy & Data Security
Impute.me’s Terms of Use are not very extensive. Their page is fairly simple and has no navigation options.
They claim that any traceable genetic information, such as the uploaded genomic file and imputed data, is deleted two weeks after imputation. Regarding the calculations and risk scores, Impute.me deletes them from their server two years after imputation.
Impute.me reserves the right to contact the participants via email. This may be to ask users for further medical research in the future.
Impute.me also claims to never transfer, sell or provide a user’s information and records to any third party.
Impute.me Reviews
There are not many Impute.me reviews available online. Some users have taken to Reddit to share their reports and discuss amongst one another the accuracy and usefulness of the site. Some people found the results underwhelming, while others found their results interesting at best. A few users pointed out the fact that it can take several days to receive your results back, which they found surprising.
Alternatives to Impute.me
- SelfDecode: The best option for health-focused DNA analysis with personalized reports and recommendations to improve your quality of life.
While Impute.me offers free genomic imputation and SNP-based analysis, it lacks actionable health recommendations and does not provide DNA testing. For users who want more comprehensive insights into their genetics, along with guidance on how to optimize health, SelfDecode is a superior alternative.
SelfDecode allows users to upload raw DNA data from major testing companies or purchase a DNA kit directly. Using AI and machine learning, SelfDecode analyzes up to 83 million genetic variants, calculates advanced polygenic risk scores, and translates complex data into personalized, prioritized recommendations for diet, supplements, lifestyle, and overall wellness. Unlike Impute.me, SelfDecode’s recommendations are backed by peer-reviewed scientific research and are continuously updated with new findings.
| Feature | SelfDecode | Impute.me |
| Scientific Accuracy | Ancestry-adjusted polygenic risk scores published in a Nature journal | Basic SNP-based interpretation |
| Variant Coverage | 200M+ variants analyzed, millions per report | Limited SNP panels |
| Health Recommendations | Integrates symptoms, labs, conditions, and genetic data for personalized advice | Not available |
| Number of Reports | 1,500+ reports | Limited |
| Validation & Research | 6 published validation studies in peer-reviewed journals | Not publicly available |
| Privacy & Security | HIPAA & GDPR compliant | Unclear; privacy details not disclosed |
| Practitioner Tools | Dedicated practitioner portals and decision support | Not Available |
| Ease of interpretation | Easy-to-understand, actionable recommendations | Requires genetics knowledge, results can be confusing |
Impute.me Review Summary
Impute.me offers free genomic imputation and DNA analysis tools. It may take several days for your analysis to be completed, but users who make a donation to the website are moved up the processing queue and receive priority access to their results.
The site is not user-friendly, and the results may not be easy for everyone to understand. Plus, despite offering polygenic risk score calculators, Impute.me does not provide health recommendations based on the results.
For those seeking DNA-based insights to help them improve their health, Impute.me might not be the best option. If you want a company that performs genetic imputation to help you get the most out of your DNA file and goes even further by giving personalized recommendations, SelfDecode is a better choice.
SelfDecode is the only direct-to-consumer DNA company that uses AI and machine learning to analyze up to 200 million variants to give the most accurate genetic risk scores and personalized recommendations based on your DNA.
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