FAQs

Check out our ‘get started’ page which outlines the five simple steps involved in creating your personalised health programme.  

You will receive a health roadmap based on your lifestyle, family history and genetic testing results delivered by Life100’s doctor.  This will provide recommended additional screening (if indicated), lifestyle changes and vitamin and nutrient advice together with an exercise and diet plan. As part of the one-off fee, you will receive a 30x whole genome genetic test and you will gain access to the Nebula gene library with a 1-year membership, this can be extended through a membership with Nebula. The library is updated regularly and contains all current genetic research linked to your genome.

There is a one-off fee of $2,495 including gst that will cover the healthcare and lifestyle screening along with the genetic screening. You will receive a tailored roadmap developed by Life100 co-founder and practicing GP, Dr Paul Stoddart, to optimise your future health outcomes. For more information see our pricing section.

It provides insight into the individual’s extended families’ health concerns, illness and significant risks that run in families.  Lifestyle assessment provides insight into the individual's current behaviours, such as diet, sleep, stress, exercise and more, and these can provide a predictor to future risk of illness. The combination of all three factors enables us to provide a roadmap to help improve future health outcomes.

There is no reason not to go ahead – in fact you will be able to see if there is anything we should be looking out for – lifestyle and testing at the right ages become increasingly important and predispositions in your genes can give you useful information about tests that are tailored to you.

Your healthcare plan will include advice on future screening tests and when you should have them done plus lifestyle and nutritional advice. We anticipate that your healthcare programme will assist your GP and or specialist who will follow things up and provide the ongoing care. The LIFE100 Doctor will be happy to answer any relevant questions you may have about your healthcare plan.

Life 100 was founded by Paul Stoddart, a doctor, and Shelley Stoddart, who saw a gap in the market for a proactive health programme designed through a combination of comprehensive health screening and world-leading genetic testing. To find out more about our co-founders see their bios on the ‘Our Team’ page.    

Nebula Genomics was founded by the DNA sequencing pioneer George Church who was a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. Nebula Genomics is regarded as a pioneer in the field with a mission to usher in the era of personal genomics by providing access to affordable Whole Genome Sequencing and creating technology to protect genomic data privacy.

Click here to learn more about Nebula Genomics.

A genetic test that decodes 100% of your DNA is called Whole Genome Sequencing. It includes the sequencing of all genes (coding regions), regulatory genomic regions, the Y chromosome (for males), and mitochondrial DNA. In contrast, other types of genetic tests examine less than 1% of your genome (e.g. tests from DNA companies such as AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage DNA, and Living DNA). It is the best DNA test for health, ancestry as well as the best test for genomic research (academia and pharmaceutical companies) and public health purposes. You can learn more about Whole Genome Sequencing (and genetics and genomics in general) on the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health.

Whole Genome Sequencing uses a massively parallel DNA sequencing technology called Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), that enables large scale sequencing of many short DNA molecules at the same time. This is much faster than sequencing the full length of the entire genome base-by-base. To determine the order of the short DNA fragments that are output by the sequencing machines, the fragments are computationally mapped to a reference genome and the full-length DNA strands of the newly sequenced genome are reconstructed.Whole Genome Sequencing is much more advanced than the other DNA tests typically used by companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA.

Whole Genome Sequencing identifies all genetic variation in the genome and is not limited to single-gene sequencing for specific diseases. For this reason, it is the best DNA test to discover genetic health risks and for diagnosis of genetic conditions. For example, Whole Genome DNA Sequencing can determine if there is an increased risk of developing diseases like hereditary cancers (e.g. a high risk for breast and ovarian cancer) and genetic predispositions to many other health conditions.  It allows you to find out what genes are functioning and what genes aren't. It will unveil genetic mutations that may impact genetic methylation. Genetic methylation is a process the body goes through to regulate gene expression patterns. It is how the body converts raw nutrients into usable forms that the body needs. It plays a critical role in disease and response to environmental factors. It is essential for detoxification, energy production, hormone balance plus immune and nervous system function.

Whole Genome Sequencing enables patients to receive improved medical care that takes genetic disease and gene expression into consideration. Combining Whole Genome Sequencing data with family history and combined further screening tests with a specialist, where appropriate can help evaluation of disease risks, early diagnosis and optimise health outcomes.

Whole Genome Sequencing is also the best DNA test for ancestry. Unlike other DNA ancestry services, Nebula Genomics fully decode mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA testing; maternal lineage) and Y chromosomes (Y-CHR testing; paternal lineage) which can help identify connections between your DNA profile and distant family members through ancestors who lived a long time ago.

You will receive a tailormade healthcare programme, developed by Life100’s Dr Paul Stoddart, that keeps pace with advances in genetic medicine. Your plan will include advice on nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and future screening tests tailormade to your specific health needs so you can take control of your future health. We will schedule a one hour consultation to review and discuss recommendations with you.

Yes! Nebula Genomics do Whole Genome Sequencing which means that they decode all ~20,000 genes in the human genome. This includes any gene that you might be interested in. If you are interested in specific genes to see if you are a carrier e.g cystic fibrosis this will be identified by the test and an appropriate specialist referral will need to be booked.

New scientific studies that advance our understanding of human genetics are published almost every day. Nebula Genomics charges a subscription fee because users benefit from these discoveries. For example, every week you will receive multiple new DNA reports that are based on the latest scientific discoveries. You will also get unlimited access to the Nebula genome exploration tools that will empower you to study your genetic blueprints at your own pace. Finally, you will receive premium support from the Nebula Genomics team of genetics experts. They will answer any question that you might have about human genetics, your reports, or the use of the exploration tools. If you cancel your membership you will lose access to all these benefits. However, you will always retain access to your genomic data and will be able to download it anytime.

30x coverage means that every position in the genome is decoded on average 30 times. This is sufficient for most use cases. 100x coverage means that every position is read on average 100 times. We recommend 100x coverage if you intend to use the data to search for very rare genetic variants that might cause genetic diseases. For Life100 health screening purposes we use 30X coverage.

The turnaround time is similar to other DNA testing services. We will send you a Nebula Genomics at-home DNA testing kit as soon as we receive payment from you.  Once we receive your DNA kit with your DNA sample (cheek swab or saliva sample) in the collection tube, we send this on to Nebula Genomics where your sample will be processed in an average of 12-14 weeks. We will notify you when your DNA sequencing results are ready and help you to activate your DNA test kit to view your DNA results.

Yes. Whole Genome Sequencing is not limited to autosomal testing but also fully decodes sex chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA.

In New Zealand, health insurance does not cover the cost of Whole Genome Sequencing DNA testing or health assessments.  Please check with your health insurance policy for any disclosure requirements.  Life100 will not disclose any data with insurance companies unless required to by law.

Contact shelley@life100.co.nz  and we will provide assistance.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Nebula does not guarantee delivery times, the indicated time frames are for guidance only. Refunds are not warranted due to delayed shipping times. 

Refund Policy: 

30x: The fee for 30x Whole-Genome Sequencing is billed at the time of the purchase and all orders are final and not refundable under any conditions once the order has been confirmed. If your kit does not arrive or is not delivered successfully, a new kit will be sent.

Samples that are not submitted within 2 months of the time of purchase will not be sequenced. Failure to submit your sample within 2 months of purchase does not constitute grounds for refund or replacement of the collection kit.