Kailos Genetics Review: How Does This Hereditary Cancer Test Work?

Overview

• Products: DNA testing, cancer screening, pharmacogenetics.
• Cost: $225.
• Reports: Hereditary cancer and pharmacogenetics reports (currently not available).
• Raw data access: No.
• Privacy: Kailos Genetics claims to abide by HIPAA rules and only shares de-identified information for research purposes.
• Alternatives: SelfDecode provides personalized diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations based on an analysis of up to 200 million genetic variants.

Pros

• Can connect users to professional genetic counselors.
• Simple cheek swab DNA test.

Cons

• Only available in the US.
• No personalized health recommendations in the reports.
• No raw data uploading.
• Limited number of genes and variants analyzed, restricting the scope of insights
• Does not offer ancestry-adjusted polygenic risk scores, multiomics integration, or published, peer-reviewed validation of predictions, which reduces accuracy and scientific reliability

About Kailos Genetics

Kailos Genetics was founded in 2010 by CEO Brian Pollock and CSO Troy Moore. They are based in Alabama, USA. Their laboratory is located on the campus of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama.

They offer products for individuals, employers, and healthcare systems, in addition to laboratory services.

Review of Kailos Genetics Products & Features

Kailos Genetics offers two options for DNA testing: Expedio Hereditary Cancer Test and Inspexion Pharmacogenetic Test.

The Expedio test assesses your risk for the following types of cancers:

• Breast
• Endocrine
• Gastrointestinal
• Genitourinary
• Gynecologic
• Hematologic
• Nervous system
• Soft tissue
• Bone
• Skin

This test analyzes 33 genes, all of which Kailos Genetics claims have scientific evidence that supports an increased risk of the types of cancer mentioned above.

Expedio Hereditary Cancer Screening Genes

In order to purchase a DNA test from this company, you are required to input your doctor’s information as well as your own. Kailos Genetics warns that you must receive permission from your doctor before viewing your results.

The Expedio test is only available to those outside the states of New York and Maryland, and who are over 18 years of age. It cannot be purchased outside of the United States.

The Inspexion test is not yet available on the website. It’s said to test 19 genes related to your drug response to medications in the following areas:

• Mental health
• Gastrointestinal
• Pain management
• Oncology
• Cardiology
• HIV/AIDS

Inspection Pharmacogenetic Test Genes

The company does not allow you to upload a raw DNA file to receive the reports. This can be a nuisance for those who already had their DNA tested with another provider.

Review of Kailos Genetics Reports

Kailos Genetics claims that test results are ready two weeks after they receive your sample. They will send you an email notification, after which you can log in to your account and access your results. You can also download a PDF version. Your doctor will receive your results two days before you do.

It’s also worth noting that you will need to receive permission from your doctor before viewing your results. The company makes it clear that you will need to rely on your doctor to understand your results, as the reports do not appear to offer guidance directly to the patient.

There are no sample reports available on their website, so it’s unclear what you will receive from Kailos. The company claims that the Expedio test gives doctors information about genetics that can provide insights into healthcare decisions.

Keep in mind that they do not claim to offer personalized diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations you can implement right away to help you optimize your health based on your genetic results.

For the Inspexion test, Kailos Genetics states that the designated physician will receive a report containing your genetic variations and how they can change how you metabolize certain medications.

As with the Expedio report, the pharmacogenetic test relies on your doctor to explain your results to you and provide any additional health insights.

Cost of Kailos Genetics

The Expedio Hereditary Cancer Testing service is priced at $225. Users can purchase it directly from the Kailos Genetics website, but they still need to provide their physician’s information.

The company also offers a limited number of free or reduced-cost hereditary cancer risk testing. People in specific locations and within an age group can get the test for $129. Regardless, you still need to provide your doctor’s information.

They do not provide prices for the Inspexion test.

Health Recommendations from Kailos Genetics

Kailos Genetics does not give health recommendations directly in the reports. On their website, they state you should talk with your healthcare provider so that they can better explain your results to you.

You will also need to receive approval from your doctor just to view your results. This can be a point of concern for those who want to gain control of their health.

Kailos does offer a tool to physicians to help aid medical decisions, but you will not receive actionable insights to help you optimize your health. If this is your goal, you might need to look at other alternatives.

SNP Analysis vs PRS vs Advanced PRS

Kailos Genetics primarily focuses on single-gene or limited SNP analysis for hereditary cancer and pharmacogenetics. This approach examines only a small number of genetic variants. While these individual SNPs may be associated with slightly increased or decreased risk, analyzing them in isolation provides a very narrow view of health. Each SNP typically contributes less than 1% to the overall risk of a complex condition, which means relying solely on a handful of variants can give an incomplete and potentially misleading picture of genetic risk.

Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) offer a more sophisticated method. Instead of looking at individual variants, PRS aggregates thousands to millions of SNPs into a single weighted score that reflects an individual’s overall genetic risk. This captures the polygenic nature of most diseases and provides a more accurate and actionable assessment of health risks. Traditional PRS models are better than single-SNP analysis but can still be limited if they are not ancestry-adjusted or validated on large, diverse datasets.

Advanced PRS, like those used by SelfDecode and powered by OmicsEdge, takes this a step further by combining millions of genetic variants with ancestry information, clinical factors, and multiomics data. This approach provides highly accurate risk scores and actionable insights, allowing users to make informed lifestyle, diet, and supplement choices. By integrating lab results and other biomarkers, advanced PRS delivers a comprehensive, 360-degree picture of health that single-SNP analysis or basic PRS cannot achieve.

In practical terms, single-SNP models, such as those used by Kailos Genetics, typically produce limited predictive accuracy and cannot reliably guide personalized health decisions. In contrast, advanced PRS models achieve much higher accuracy, enabling better risk stratification, evidence-based recommendations, and actionable guidance for optimizing overall health. Read more here.

Review of Kailos Genetics Privacy & Data Security

Kailos Genetics claims not to sell user genetic information. The company conducts research and works with public, private, and government partnerships. They may share aggregate or individual-level information with third parties for research purposes with user consent.

The company does provide your designated physician access to your genetic data and reports.

Kailos Genetics Reviews

There aren’t many Kailos Genetics reviews online. Business Insider published a review about this company, but it is dated from 2015. It discusses the pharmacogenomics test, which is not available on the website.

The reviewer talked about how easy it was to submit their sample, but states they were hoping to learn more about how their genetics interacted with medication. In this aspect, Kailos Genetics fell short in their view.

Alternatives to Kailos Genetics

For individuals seeking actionable insights to improve their health, SelfDecode is a strong alternative. Unlike Kailos Genetics, SelfDecode analyzes up to 200 million genetic variants, integrates lab results and other biomarkers (multiomics), and provides personalized diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations.

Its advanced, ancestry-adjusted Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) are validated in six peer-reviewed studies published in top-tier journals, offering accurate risk prediction across a wide range of health topics. With over 1,500 reports and strict HIPAA and GDPR-compliant privacy protections, SelfDecode gives users a comprehensive, science-backed understanding of their health.

For healthcare professionals and practitioners who want to provide their clients with advanced genetic insights, PromicsEdge offers a professional-grade platform. It leverages the same advanced PRS and multiomics analysis as SelfDecode but is designed for clinical and research workflows. Practitioners can integrate genetics, lab results, and other health data to deliver highly personalized recommendations for prevention, lifestyle optimization, and clinical decision-making.

These alternatives provide a more complete, actionable, and validated approach to health optimization compared with the limited scope of Kailos Genetics.

Kailos Genetics Review Summary

Kailos Genetics can assist physicians in treating their patients by recommending screening and preventative measures based on their patient’s genetic risks. The test covers different types of cancer, including breast, gastrointestinal, and skin cancers.

The company also plans to offer a pharmacogenetic test, but this is still not available on their website. Kailos does not offer anything beyond this limited scope. Regardless, the reports do not provide direct insights to help you improve your health. You will need to rely on your doctor to interpret your results and learn what steps to take next.

For those who wish to take a more proactive approach to their health, this can be a point of concern. If you’re interested in gaining insights based on your DNA, SelfDecode could be a better option.

By using AI and machine learning, SelfDecode and PromicsEdge are able to analyze up to 200 million genetic variants to provide more accurate genetic risk scores and personalized health recommendations aimed at improving overall health without the need to ask your doctor for permission.

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