Which nutrigenomics testing company is best for a clinic?

This article gives you those questions. For the bigger picture, see Nutrigenomic DNA testing in the clinic: the complete NGX guide.

Which nutrigenomic testing company is best?

We don't rank labs, and we'd be careful with any list that does. What suits one clinic may not suit another. A med spa, a functional medicine practice and a sports medicine clinic see different clients and may want different panels.

So instead of a ranking, use criteria. Score each company you're considering against the same list, and let your clinical owner make the call.

1. Lab credentials

Start here. Ask where the testing is actually performed and what certification the lab holds.

In the United States, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) set quality standards for laboratory testing on human specimens. CMS runs the CLIA program. Ask for:

• The performing lab's name and CLIA certificate number.
• Any accreditation the lab holds.
• Whether testing is done in house or sent to another lab.

Then check it yourself rather than relying on a sales sheet.

2. Validation and method

Ask how the lab reads the DNA and how it checks its own work.

• What method does the lab use?
• Has it validated that method, and can it describe the validation?
• What quality checks run on each sample?
• What happens when a sample fails or a result is unclear?

Clear answers here are a good sign. Vague answers are worth noting.

3. How reports are written

This is where companies differ most, and it's what your providers will live with. Ask for a sample report and read it closely.

• Does each finding say how strong the research behind it is?
• Is the language about tendencies, or does it read like a diagnosis?
• Are recommendations written for a provider to review, or as instructions to the client?
• Is there a short summary a provider can use in a visit?
• Would your provider be comfortable handing it to a client?

Reports that describe genetic tendencies and "may influence" relationships are easier to explain responsibly than reports that sound certain.

4. Data and privacy

Genetic data is personal. Ask:

• Where is data stored, and who can access it?
• How long is it kept?
• Is it ever shared or sold, including in de identified form?
• How can a client request deletion?

Your consent form should match the answers. Have counsel review it.

5. Ordering, turnaround and support

• Who can order, and how are providers verified?
• How are kits shipped and stored?
• How long do reports take, and how are they delivered?
• Is there support for your providers when a report raises questions?

6. Marketing language

Look at how the company describes its own tests. If its materials promise outcomes or suggest the test diagnoses conditions, think about whether you want that language near your clinic. The FTC expects health claims to be truthful, not misleading and backed by competent and reliable scientific evidence.

Are nutrigenomic tests accurate?

Accuracy depends on the lab and the method. It helps to split the question in two.

Analytical accuracy: does the lab read the DNA correctly? That's about lab quality, certification and validation, which you can check with the questions above.

Interpretation: does a given variant mean what the report says it means? That depends on the research behind each gene finding, and that research varies in strength. Some links are well studied. Others rest on fewer studies.

We don't quote accuracy figures, because they depend on the lab, the method and the specific gene. Ask each company about its CLIA certification and validation, read how its reports are written and let your provider judge what's useful.

Either way, results are interpreted by the provider, in context with the client's history, lifestyle and labs. A report is not a diagnosis.

A simple scoring sheet

Put each company in a column and mark each row as clear, unclear or missing:

Where does NGX fit?

NGX is RevMed's nutrigenomic line, and it's the one we introduce clinics to. RevMed puts it this way: "Six DNA tests. One sample." As RevMed puts it, every report includes: "Each gene rated No, Low, Moderate or High impact; Plain-language explanations of what each gene does; Diet, supplement and lifestyle recommendations; Practitioner notes for building the care plan."

Run NGX through the same checklist as any other option. Ask RevMed's team for lab and validation details, read a sample report and decide with your provider.

If it fits, ordering runs through RevMed. Open your clinic account through our Partner Link. Once you're verified through RevMed, existing practices can be ordering within about 48 hours. Tests come from licensed, vetted pharmacy and laboratory partners, and RevMed also says ordering through one source means a lower cost per item. See the NGX DNA testing page.

Next step

Want to evaluate NGX? Open your clinic account through our Partner Link. Questions first? Book a 15 minute intro.