Important Notices
Before completing the consent form, please make sure to read and understand the contents of this guide.
Please review the concept, purpose, procedure, and your rights regarding the DTC genetic testing service.
Concept and Purpose of the DTC Genetic Testing Service
DTC (Direct-To-Consumer) genetic testing services are those that consumers can request directly without a medical intermediary.
DowGene Dr.Care DNA Test is a genetic testing service designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for the purpose of preventing diseases based on nutrition, lifestyle, and physical characteristics.
DTC genetic testing is not intended for diagnosing or treating diseases. The test results should be used as reference material to understand the possibility of genetic traits. Genetic traits can be influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors as well, so test results should not be interpreted as absolute.
Dowgene Genetic Institute is a certified testing organization by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and conducts tests following standardized procedures to maintain quality and reliability. We strictly manage personal data and genetic information security.
Understanding the Meaning of the Test
The results of this test cannot be used for diagnosing or treating diseases. Please consult a physician for medical advice.
This test result does not reflect current environmental factors (such as health status, check-up results, or lifestyle), and may not match the current or past health condition or individual traits.
This test result is only provided for the individual being tested, and does not interpret results for other family members.
This test does not analyze all genes and SNP markers related to the tested traits. The included SNPs may be updated based on the latest research, and thus future re-analysis could yield different results.
The ‘Good’, ‘Attention’, and ‘Caution’ indicators for each test item reflect genetic factors only. They do not determine or represent your current condition and may change based on environmental and lifestyle influences.
Only the test items permitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare are provided.
According to Article 46 of the Bioethics and Safety Act (Prohibition of Discrimination Based on Genetic Information), test results cannot be used for discriminatory purposes in education, promotion, insurance, or other social activities. Except as otherwise provided by law, no one may force another person to undergo a genetic test or submit test results.
The clinical significance of this test has not yet been established, and there is insufficient evidence to support the usefulness of health-related actions based on the results. Ethical concerns may also arise if the test is conducted on children.
Limitations of Genetic Testing
DTC genetic testing results are based on statistical trends within a population group and do not take into account the individual’s personal traits such as nutrition, habits, attitude, or activity level.
Personal health and traits are affected by both genetic and environmental or lifestyle factors. Therefore, even though the test analyzes genetic variations related to wellness, it does not include all relevant genes.
The number and type of analyzed genotypes, interpretation methods (algorithms), and reference databases may vary by company, leading to differences in results.
As a result, even for the same individual, test interpretations may differ across companies depending on which genotypes, standards, and algorithms they choose, especially when the scientific evidence is not yet well-established.
Understanding the results properly and taking care of your health based on them can help improve wellness. However, since DTC genetic testing is not for disease diagnosis or treatment, it is important to be aware of these limitations when interpreting your results.
If you need a medical opinion, please visit a healthcare facility and consult a professional physician.
※ The clinical significance of the test results has not yet been established, and there is insufficient evidence supporting the usefulness of related health actions.
※ According to Article 46 of the Bioethics and Safety Act, discrimination based on genetic information is prohibited in education, employment, promotion, insurance, or other social activities. Unless otherwise specified by law, no one can force others to take genetic tests or submit their test results.
For more detailed information, please refer to the page below.
https://dowims.synology.me:8447/service_guide/DTC_Guide_1.php