Overview
- Products: Whole exome sequencing through doctors, health reports.
- Cost: Prices are not disclosed on the website.
- Reports: Chronic diseases, cancer, medication, diet & fitness, carrier status.
- Raw data access: Yes.
- Privacy: New Amsterdam Genomics claims to be HIPAA compliant but is not very clear on their data sharing policy.
- Alternatives: SelfDecode offers comprehensive DNA wellness reports and personalized health recommendations based on an analysis of up to 83 million genetic variants.
Pros
- Offers whole exome sequencing.
- Offers users the ability to reexamine raw data from other DNA providers.
Cons
- Minimal information available regarding what practitioners and patients will receive from this DNA test.
- The company requires you to contact them directly to order tests (practitioners and patients).
- Does not have a clear privacy policy.
- No customer reviews available.
About New Amsterdam Genomics
New Amsterdam Genomics (NAG) was founded in 2013 by Andrew Mills, a Ph.D. in computer science. The company is headquartered in New York, USA.
Their website is simplistic and does not offer much information about how the DNA analysis is performed or how the results are presented. To get access to more complete testing information, you need to contact the company.
It’s worth noting that, despite being around for nearly a decade, there aren’t any customer reviews available on third-party websites about the company.
Review of New Amsterdam Genomics Products & Features
New Amsterdam Genomics claims to be an AI-based platform that provides health insights based on DNA and other health data. They use natural language processing to go through published medical papers to determine which applies to each individual.
Users cannot order a New Amsterdam Genomics test by themselves. To sign up, they need to provide their contact information on the website and send their doctor an extensive requisition form to fill out.
The final report is delivered to the referring doctor, but the company claims that users are also given access to an online portal where they can investigate their results.
Similar to individuals, providers are required to enter their contact information on the website to get started, as minimal test information is provided by the company.
NAG provides a requirements checklist for providers to make sure they have all documentation needed for ordering the test. They are:
- Requisition form for doctors
- Patient consent form (signed by the patient)
- Saliva submission form (required if the patient provides the sample outside their doctor’s office)
- Saliva sample
- Payment (either from the patient directly or from the doctor)
New Amsterdam Genomics claims to continuously analyze patients’ data to keep findings up-to-date. As examples of what you can learn by getting your DNA tested, NAG lists the following areas of interest:
DNA test kits can be shipped to the patient’s house or to the practitioner’s office. Results are ready 5 weeks after they receive the sample in their lab.
Review of New Amsterdam Genomics Reports
Unfortunately, New Amsterdam Genomics does not provide sample reports, so users cannot be certain of the extent of information they will receive. When navigating their website, it’s difficult to understand what you’ll receive when you test your DNA with NAG, as there are many inconsistencies when describing the product.
The company advertises they integrate DNA data with lab values and other health properties to formulate care plans, but it’s unclear which labs they are referring to, or how users can have access to them. They also state that by knowing their patients’ genetic mutations, physicians can recommend further testing, diet and lifestyle adjustments, or other steps based on the genetic results. However, it is unclear the extent of health insights provided in the reports.
They claim to report significant medical findings, ancestry, and provide diet and exercise recommendations. Although they appear to offer insights into different aspects of health, it’s not explained whether you will receive reports covering all topics or if you must purchase each report separately.
According to their test requisition form, results are presented as a paper report and in their online portal. The paper report consists of five pages containing highlights from the test, while the portal displays more details.
Cost of New Amsterdam Genomics
There are no prices displayed on their website. For those who wish to learn more about New Amsterdam prices, they need to contact the company directly. Additionally, they don’t clarify if you receive reports on all health topics advertised when you get tested with NAG, or if you need to purchase each one separately.
Health Recommendations from New Amsterdam Genomics
It is unclear the extent of health recommendations New Amsterdam Genomics offers. They claim to provide suggestions regarding specific diets you should follow and which athletic activities are recommended to you based on your DNA.
They state their reports could enable doctors to manage their patients’ health better. According to NAG, knowing patients’ genetic risks could help doctors recommend further testing, diet and lifestyle changes, or other steps to improve overall well-being.
Review of New Amsterdam Genomics Privacy & Data Security
New Amsterdam Genomics privacy policy is not very extensive. Regarding your DNA, the company only tells you that they are HIPAA compliant and that your data is encrypted. They claim users have the ability to control access to their health data but provide no other information. The website does not explain how they handle anonymized data or if they share user information with third parties.
If you wish to get your DNA sequenced by NAG or offer this service to your patients but still have doubts about this DNA testing privacy policy, you may want to contact the company to learn more about their data sharing and security practices.
SelfDecode vs New Amsterdam Genomics
- SelfDecode delivers natural supplement, diet, and lifestyle suggestions based on your genes that you can implement right away. New Amsterdam Genomics states they may help doctors provide health recommendations to improve patients’ health.
- SelfDecode tells you why they make each recommendation so that you can understand the science behind the suggestion. It is unclear how New Amsterdam Genomics presents their reports.
- SelfDecode prioritizes recommendations based on their analysis of all the relevant genes instead of one gene at a time (through reports). New Amsterdam Genomics claims to prioritize patients’ most important mutations.
- SelfDecode takes a holistic approach to give recommendations that are best for your genes AND the health topic. New Amsterdam Genomics offers reports on many health topics, but it is unclear if they’re all included with one purchase.
- SelfDecode has a team of over 60 highly skilled scientists, MDs, PhDs, NDs, and software engineers to make sure they deliver the most accurate and science-based health information. Although they claim to have multiple PhDs in computer science and biology on their team, New Amsterdam Genomics only has two employees according to their LinkedIn page.
- SelfDecode is the most comprehensive and looks at more genes & SNPs (up to 83 million) to deliver the best analysis of genetic risks. New Amsterdam Genomics offers whole exome sequencing, but it is unclear how many SNPs they analyze related to each health issue.
- SelfDecode supports everything with peer-reviewed scientific studies in their research and checks for contradicting information. New Amsterdam Genomics includes scientific references in their test requisition form, but it is unclear how they present their reports.
- SelfDecode never sells your data or gives it away. New Amsterdam Genomics only states that users have the ability to control access to their health data, but they make no statement about their data sharing policy.
Comparisons
|
SelfDecode |
New Amsterdam Genomics | GeneDx | Myriad Genetics | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Personalized & holistic health recommendations |
Yes | No | No |
No |
|
Genes & genetic variants analyzed |
Up to 83 million genetic variants | 22,000 genes | Targeted panels |
Genes associated with specific conditions |
|
Products |
DNA testing, wellness reports, research-based personalized health recommendations, lab test analyzer, patient and provider options | Whole exome sequencing, health reports | WGS, WES, disease reporting |
Molecular diagnostic tests, women’s health and hereditary cancer reports, pharmacogenomics |
|
Raw data access |
Yes | Yes | No |
Unclear |
| Cost (USD) | $97 – $396 | Not disclosed | Depends on insurance coverage |
Not disclosed |
New Amsterdam Genomics Reviews
Even though the company has been in business since 2013, there aren’t many New Amsterdam Genomics reviews online. The company does not have a strong social media presence or online interactions with customers.
There are a few reviews available embedded on their website, although it’s not possible to verify them.
Alternatives to New Amsterdam Genomics
SelfDecode: The best health-related DNA test that uses AI and machine learning to analyze up to 83 million genetic variants to provide personalized health recommendations.
New Amsterdam Genomics Review Summary
New Amsterdam Genomics offers whole exome sequencing through healthcare providers. However, the process of finding out test information to ordering is complicated and unclear, requiring many unnecessary steps, both for doctors and patients who wish to sign up.
The information provided on their website is minimal, so those who want to get their DNA sequenced by NAG will need to contact the company directly for more details.
For individuals who wish to discover more about their health, SelfDecode may offer a better option. SelfDecode uses AI and machine learning to analyze up to 83 million genetic variants and provides personalized and prioritized diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations based on your DNA.
Included with a SelfDecode membership is access to SelfDecode Labs. You can upload your results or order lab tests from SelfDecode and learn what you can do to get your labs to their optimal range.
For healthcare professionals who wish to provide their clients with custom health reports based on their DNA and labs, SelfDecode also offers professional plans. With SelfDecode Pro, you will receive genetic insights and AI-generated personalized and prioritized recommendations for each client. SelfDecode allows you to easily build each client a health routine best suited for them based on their DNA and labs.
Are you a health practitioner? Book a free strategy call today to see if SelfDecode Pro is the right fit for you and your practice.
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