All humans have near-identical DNA sequences, however tiny differences exist between us, making each of us unique.

These small differences are called Genomic Variants, and occur at specific places within our whole genes, in our DNA.

There are roughly 4-5 million such genomic variants in one individual’s DNA. These variants may be unique to you, or may also occur in others.

Some variants increase the risk of developing diseases, while others may reduce such risk; and others have no effect on disease risk at all.

Our Polygenic Risk Score test will analyse your DNA to find these variations, and compare them to millions of other people – both with cancer and without – to see if you have any similarities in your variations.

Depending on how closely matched your combination of variants is to those people with or without cancer, we can tell you whether you are likely to be at risk of developing cancer in the next 10 years and give you a Polygenic Risk Score.

This is a score relative to the ‘average’ of your age and/or gender. 

As an example, If you are a 55 year old female, your results could include something like this:

“Your risk of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years is 3.05%. The 10-year average risk of developing breast cancer among 55 year old women in the United Kingdom is 1.59%.

“In terms of relative comparison, this result implies that your risk of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years is 1.92-fold higher than the genetic risk among 55 year old women on average.”

Using your saliva sample, scientists will analyse 30 whole genes from your DNA which are known to have an impact on whether you develop hereditary cancers if they are mutated or damaged.

Checking each one, we can tell whether you are at risk of developing a range of cancers due to your genetics. Unlike the Polygenic Risk, this is based purely on your genes, not in comparison to other people, and is therefore more ‘absolute’ than ‘relative’.

It is also different from the Polygenic Risk test because it checks mutations in the whole gene structure, not tiny changes in the gene, so can test for additional cancers.

The genes checked include BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, identified as being significantly influential on breast cancer development, and which famously affected Angelina Jolie, leading to her pro-active double mastectomy in 2013.

Our most comprehensive package includes checks of an additional 30 genes to identify your risk of developing Cardiac Diseases which can cause heart disease and cardiac arrest at any age.

Your report will provide one of three results:

Mutation Found

A mutation has been found in one or more of your genes known to increase the risk of cancer or heart disease.

Increased screening, further tests and risk-reducing techniques will be recommended to you based on your family history.

Genetic Variation Identified

A genetic variation is found, but whether or not this is the definite cause of cancer  or heart disease is unknown. Screening will be recommended based on your medical history and family history.

or No Mutation Found

No mutation has been found in your sample, we have not detected a reason to suggest increased risk of cancer or heart disease. It is possible that there may be an undetectable mutation or a mutation in a gene not tested.