Family history isn't the whole story.
Did your grandfather have a heart attack? Did your mother have diabetes?
That can tell you something about your health, but your family history can’t give you the full picture. It may be incomplete. Inaccurate. Or fail to reveal all the risks you carry. Now genetic information can help give you a comprehensive view of your health.
Missing pieces
Some of us don’t know what happened in our family’s medical history.
What if you never knew one of your parents?
What if your family never talked about health problems?
What if you were adopted and don’t have any family health information?
Genetic knowledge helps fill those gaps, giving you answers you've never been able to access before.
Inheritance
Furthermore, the way we inherit our DNA is complicated. You don’t know which components of your DNA you inherited from each parent. And developing a condition is a complex interaction between your DNA, your surroundings, and your behaviors.
In the past, many of us thought that genetic testing could only answer questions about inheriting very rare conditions. Now, genetic testing can reveal insights into your inheritance for a wide variety of health conditions, including ones many of us face every day.
Understand yourself
Ultimately, your genetic information is a tool beyond family history, and even your behavior and environment.
For the first time in history, you can combine all these elements to get a truly comprehensive view of your health. A comprehensive view of you.
Is DNA my destiny?
MYTH: Genes are your destiny.
TRUTH: Contrary to popular belief, DNA doesn’t have to be scary. Your DNA indicates your genetic risks, but it doesn’t define your future. There are many things you can do to reduce these risks – and once you know all the ways you can take action, chances are you’ll want to know.
Does DNA only come from blood?
MYTH: A genetic test requires a blood sample.
TRUTH: Our tests are based on the DNA found in saliva. So the process is painless, but still reliable and accurate.
Are genetic mutations common?
MYTH: Most people don’t have any genetic mutations.
TRUTH: Everyone has genetic mutations, or variations, in their genetic code. These variations are part of what makes us unique, and some of the more common ones can also reveal our predispositions for certain health conditions. Navigenics tests for these common, informative variations.
Is my genetic information safe?
MYTH: Others will get access to my genetic information, and then use it to keep me from getting a job or health insurance.
TRUTH: Navigenics protects your genetic information and keeps you in control.
- Our service keeps your genetic information secure, so only you control access.
- We don't share personal files with insurers, employers, or medical records firms.
- We don’t sell or share your personal genetic information with other companies.
Furthermore, a growing number of federal and state legal protections help you benefit from your genetic information without putting your job or health insurance at risk.
A powerful tool for change
Your DNA can let you know the health conditions to which you are genetically predisposed. But there's a lot that happens between now and later. There are environmental factors that influence health, and, in some cases, actually outweigh genetic risks. Your lifestyle is another huge influence -- your diet, how much you exercise, how you manage stress.
So the sooner you get your hands on your genetic insights, the sooner you can develop prevention strategies and start paying closer attention to early warning signs -- because often, earlier diagnosis lessens a condition's impact.
Your future is more in your control than you might think.
Helping your doctor help you
If you so choose, you can share the results of your Navigenics with your personal physician. And your Genetic Counselor is available to talk with your doctor as well, as part of your healthcare team.
That's a powerful combination, and a new level of personalized medicine. Working with your health team, you'll be able to develop prevention strategies that are informed by the latest science and are immediately actionable.
More than a test
With membership in Navigenics, you get a full complement of services built around your personalized results:
- A board-certified Genetic Counselor who is available to help you, or if you choose, your doctor
- A guarantee that we'll report on 100 percent of the risk markers included in your Navigenics report
- Ongoing access to your genetic results report for an entire year, with options to continue or upgrade your service. Our Navigenics Health Compass service includes new and updated genetic insights for the length of your membership.
- Easy-to-use, relevant health information, developed by our physicians, medical writers and the Mayo Clinic to help you understand each health condition and know what to do next
There's DNA.
And then there's what you do with it.
Navigenics is the leading personalized genetic testing company. We use the latest science and technology to give you a view into your DNA, revealing your genetic predisposition for important health conditions and empowering you with knowledge to help you take control of your health future.
Find a physician
Find a physician in your area that offers the Navigenics genetic testing services, so you can focus your health plan on prevention.
Next Steps
Latest Headlines
- David Agus, Navigenics co-founder, featured in GQ magazine's "Rock Stars of Science"
- San Diego Union-Tribune reveals how our genetic tests are helping our members
- Navigenics announces Jack Lord from Humana, Inc., as new CEO
- Media share their personal experiences with Navigenics Annual Insight
- National physician group MDVIP partners with Navigenics






