Question 1

What DNA files do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept raw data exports from 23andMe (all versions), AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, LivingDNA, and FamilyTreeDNA. Files can be .txt, .csv, .tsv, .zip, or .gz format. Most consumer DNA chips contain 600K–900K variants.

Question 2

How accurate are polygenic risk scores?

Accepted Answer

Every score uses peer-reviewed PGS Catalog models selected for report-grade coverage and relevance. Each score shows percentile direction and coverage. With imputation enabled, coverage jumps from ~30% to ~95%, making scores significantly more useful. PRS show relative genetic tendency compared to the population.

Question 3

What happens to my DNA data after analysis?

Accepted Answer

Your DNA file is deleted immediately after analysis completes. All intermediate files are purged within 2 hours. You receive a SHA-256 Data Deletion Certificate proving destruction. We do not store, sell, or share your genetic data.

Question 4

What’s included in the report?

Accepted Answer

300+ carefully curated polygenic risk scores across cardiovascular, cancer, metabolic, neurological, immune, and trait categories, surfaced after coverage and quality filtering. ClinVar variant scanning, pharmacogenomics, protein pathway context, training and diet guidance, and downloadable evidence packs are delivered as an interactive HTML report.

Question 5

What is imputation?

Accepted Answer

Consumer DNA chips only test ~700K positions out of your 3 billion base pairs. Imputation uses a reference panel to infer additional positions that were not directly measured. This improves polygenic risk score coverage, especially when key model variants are not present on the original chip.

Question 6

How long does analysis take?

Accepted Answer

Without imputation: 2–5 minutes. With imputation enabled: 15–45 minutes depending on server load. You’ll receive your report by email when it’s ready.

Question 7

Is this a medical diagnostic tool?

Accepted Answer

No. Helix Sequencing is for research and educational purposes. Results should be discussed with a healthcare provider before making medical decisions. Polygenic risk scores show relative genetic predisposition, not diagnoses.

Question 8

Can I compare my DNA with a family member?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our DNA Compare feature lets you trace variant inheritance between two related individuals — see which alleles came from which parent, identify shared risk factors, and explore inherited traits side by side.

Domain	Score	What Helix Prioritised	Held-Out Phenotype Evidence	Rationale
Metabolic / BMI, Glucose, Pancreatic Context	Signal detected	Glucose, energy and pancreatic balance; Body composition and training response	BMI/metabolic phenotype hits and glucose-related context were present.	Report directly surfaced diabetes, pancreatic, waist/body-composition and training-response context with protective counterweights.
GI / Mouth, Bowel And Colorectal Context	Signal detected	Gut, bowel and colorectal context	Mucocele/mouth procedure and digestive/bowel phenotype keywords were present.	Report surfaced bowel polyp, colon neoplasm, intestinal inflammation, duodenitis and colorectal context.
Skin/Allergy / Hives And Inflammatory Reactivity	Signal detected	Skin barrier, eczema and sun response; Allergy, airway and immune activation	Hives and allergic/adverse-reaction phenotype rows were present.	Report directly surfaced skin barrier, eczema, allergic rhinitis, atopic disease, asthma and immune activation context.
Cardiovascular / Patent Foramen Ovale And Structure	Signal detected	Cholesterol and cardiovascular structure	Patent foramen ovale appeared in the held-out phenotype summary.	Report surfaced heart-structure and lipid context with favorable vascular/rhythm counterweights; this is adjacent rather than PFO-specific.
Neurological / Migraine With Aura	Signal detected	Brain ageing, cognition and hearing	Migraine with aura appeared in the held-out phenotype summary.	Report surfaced broad brain/neurological context but did not directly prioritize migraine/headache.
Cancer / Screening Context	Signal detected	Gut, bowel and colorectal context; Skin barrier, eczema and sun response	Cancer-domain phenotype hit was present.	Report surfaced colorectal and skin-related cancer-background context without diagnostic framing.
Pharmacogenomics / Medication And Adverse-Reaction Context	Signal detected	Medication safety / PGx utility section	Medication rows and Wellbutrin-related hives were present.	Separate medication safety section surfaced CYP2C9, CYP3A5 and NAT2 findings, but the held-out bupropion row is only indirectly covered.
Rare/Monogenic Negative Control	Signal detected	Clinical variant status negative-control area	Syndrome keyword appeared, but no genotype-only diagnosis should be promoted.	Report did not promote a rare/monogenic diagnosis from genotype-only evidence.

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Case Card

Report generated

Phenotype revealed

Scorecard recorded

What Helix Prioritised: Top 5

Secondary Domains: Top 10

Held-Out Phenotype Domains

Missed Known Conditions

Protein / PGx Signals

Evidence Panel

Reviewer Notes

Phenotype Terms Revealed After Report Freeze

Frozen Review Notes