FAQ

General Questions

What does Antegenes offer?

Antegenes provides innovative genetic tests for assessing your polygenetic risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma. These tests provide an approach for preventative action before the disease and can be ordered either individually through our website or from authorized resellers.

Our tests take into account your unique characteristics: epidemiologic background, genetic composition, sex and age; which make your results fully personalized.

More information about our tests can be found at Products.

What do I get from taking these tests?

  • Your genetic cancer risk and a probabilistic estimate for its development over the next 10 years
  • Direct risk comparisons to other individuals of the same nationality, gender and age as you
  • Concrete follow-up actions to mitigate your risks. For example, results of the breast cancer test would provide you a personal mammography visit schedule (when to start and how often to go)

For whom do we recommend Antegenes tests?

The tests can be performed for all adults. Each test has a designated age group containing individuals with the largest expected benefits.

Breast cancer test, AnteBC, is recommended for women in ages 30-75 years that do not have a prior diagnosis of atypical breast hyperplasia or in situ carcinoma. We recommend additional medical consultation if you or any close relatives have a previous history of breast, ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer, a close biological relative has a mutation in breast cancer predisposing genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, PALB2, ATM, TP53, CDH1, STK11.

Prostate cancer test, AntePC, is recommended for men in ages 40-70. Additional medical geneticist consultation is recommended if the patient or a close biological relative has a mutation in genes predisposing to prostate cancer such as BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, CHEK2, EPCAM, HOXB13, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 or if some close biological relatives have a prior diagnosis.

Colorectal cancer test, AnteCRC, is recommended for women and men in ages 40-75. Additional medical geneticist consultation is recommended if the patient or a close biological relative has a mutation in genes predisposing to colorectal cancer such as APC, KRAS, TP53, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, STK11, MUTYH or if some close biological relatives have a prior diagnosis.

Skin melanoma test, AnteMEL, is recommended for women and men in ages 18-70. Additional medical geneticist consultation is recommended if the patient or a close biological relative has a mutation in genes predisposing to skin melanoma such as BRCA2, CDKN2A, CDK4, TP53, PTEN or if some close biological relatives have a prior diagnosis.

Before placing orders, please check the test information and make sure you meet the testing criteria. Additional details can be found at “Tests info” subpages.

How can I order?

Tests can be ordered through the Antegenes online store. The tests can be bought for yourself and also for others.

To set up an order for one person:

    1. Select a test (AnteBC,…) or a package (AnteCancerW, AnteCancerM) from our tests with DNA-testing kits.
    2. If you are interested in a post-test genetic counseling then specify your interest in the order. Genetic counseling can also be conveniently purchased through MyAntegenes later on.
    3. Specify the email address of the person that will be tested. This email address is used by Antegenes to create a personal MyAntegenes account to allow order status tracking.
    4. Press “Add to cart”.

 

Please repeat the steps above to order tests for any additional people. If all orders have been completed, continue to the checkout process.

Can I order tests for someone else?

Yes. Please repeat the steps in “How can I order?” to order tests for any number of additional persons. Each order specification added to the cart (a set of tests, consultations,…) is meant for a distinct individual with a different e-mail that will be provided a MyAntegenes’ account for personal use.

I already purchased a single test and would like to order more. What do I have to do?

If you have previously purchased at least one test then we can use a previously collected DNA sample to process additional tests. Please provide an order for additional tests via the MyAntegenes portal.

I am younger than the recommended age for testing. Can I order your tests?

Antegenes tests are not designed for individuals under 18 years of age.

Testing age cut-offs have been set based on when the age-related 10-year likelihood of developing a disease starts to become clinically relevant. For younger individuals, any recommendations may be placed to happen long in the future so we believe that it is unnecessary to potentially cause distress by delivering results without actionable follow-ups.

However, with patients’ discretion Antegenes test can be provided for all adults as regardless of age as DNA stays largely unchanged throughout life.

Test information and criteria are available on the Products page.

What do I need to do after I place an order?

We offer an online healthcare service. If you ordered a test with a DNA-testing kit then we need you to collect a DNA sample with a sampling kit sent at your address and return it to us.

Additionally, we will provide intuitive explanations to guide you through some steps required to manage your order online in the MyAntegenes portal which should not take more than a few minutes.

  • Identity verification via Veriff or other type of electronic identification (mobile-ID, smartID, ID card).
  • Personalization of your profile.
  • Review of a test based informed consent form.

What is the informed consent form and why is it needed?

Processing of genetic data and provision of a healthcare service requires your informed consent. The patient’s informed consent form gives you an overview of the test, the purpose and its limitations. Its aim is to register your informed consent of being provided this service. The informed consent form can be reviewed in the MyAntegenes portal.

Antegenes tests

I ordered an Antegenes test (with a DNA-testing kit). What happens after I place an order?

First, you will be opened a MyAntegenes account that allows you complete the steps required for personalizing your order.

All steps are completed individually online and should not take more than a few minutes:

  • Identity verification via Veriff or other type of electronic identification (mobile-ID, smartID, ID card).
  • Personalization of your profile.
  • Review of a test based informed consent form.

At the same time, Antegenes will send all DNA testing kits assembled to the address specified in checkout. Upon arrival, these are to be distributed among the recipients. Each kit contains instructions of use. After collecting the DNA sample, it must be returned returned by following the instructions in the kit.

After sample return, your sample will be sent for analysis in the genotyping laboratory. These data will be next used to perform your genetic risk analysis and test results will be made available through your personal MyAntegenes account.

How do I receive the DNA test kit?

Your DNA test kit is sent either via parcel machine (Itella Smartpost) in Estonia or other shipping options depending on your location.

What do I need to send back to Antegenes?

Each DNA-testing kit comes with everything needed for taking your DNA sample. Please follow the sample collection instructions in the kit to take the sample and then place the box inside the courier bag that came with the kit. The test can be returned for free via the parcel machine (Estonia) or a different agreement depending on the instructions of return included in your kit.

How long do I have to return my sample to the lab?

If you retrieved your sample collection kit via a parcel machine (Estonia) then please resubmit your sample in 14 days during which the return is free of charge. In any other case, it is reasonable to resubmit as fast as possible but in no later than 12 months.

I received my sample via a parcel machine but did not return my sample within 14 days of receiving the DNA-testing kit. What happens now?

If 14 days has passed from the time you received the test kit, you will need to pay for the return costs. If you are using a parcel machine to return the sample, please start a new parcel delivery process (detailed instructions are available at parcel machines). Please send your sample to Tartu Tasku parcel machine (Omniva, Itella Smartpost or DPD).

Recipient’s name: Antegenes
Phone number: +372 5377 8141.

It is also possible to bring your sample directly to Antegenes Laboratory between Mon-Fri from 9 am to 5 pm. Our address is Raatuse 21, Tartu.

I made a mistake when collecting my DNA sample. What happens now?

Please write us about your concern at info@antegenes.com or call +372 5377 8141.

I received my DNA-testing kit and the collection kit is damaged. What happens now?

If your collection kit is damaged or has expired, we will send you a replacement kit free of charge. You can request a new test kit by contacting us at info@antegenes.com or call +372 5377 8141.

Test results

How long does it take to receive test results?

All test results are reviewed by our laboratory physician.

  • Results from tests with DNA-testing kit will be ready in about 6 weeks from the time your sample is received at the lab.
  • Results from tests with DNA data upload are expected to be ready in approximately 1 week from the upload of your DNA data.

Where can I see my test results?

Test results will be made available through your personal MyAntegenes account. You will receive a notification via e-mail when the reports are ready.

What is genetic counseling and what is needed for it?

Antegenes provides genetic counseling for its tests as an additional service. All counseling sessions take place online or by telephone during which a qualified healthcare professional explains you your results. We also recommend you to take an opportunity to complete an additional test specific questionnaire in MyAntegenes prior to the consultation.

Session duration is around 20 minutes.

How can I purchase post-test genetic counseling?

Post-test genetic counseling can be either included in the order in the initial purchase or at any point during your order processing through your MyAntegenes account.

How can I register for post-test genetic counseling or for a general medical geneticist consultation?

  • Post-test genetic counseling of Antegenes tests

If you have purchased a genetic consultation and Antegenes has made at least one test results available to you then it would be possible to register for an online genetic counseling either through your MyAntegenes account or by contacting us using the details below.

At the time of the online registration, choose a time from the openings and enter any requested information. After registration, you will be sent detailed instructions about the course of the session.

  • Oncologist consultation

We provide consultation sessions with oncologists.

Register from Mon-Fri between 9am to 5pm by calling +372 5377 8141 or by email at info@antegenes.com

Privacy

Can I trust Antegenes with my genetic data?

We aim to earn your trust. Antegenes is a healthcare provider of laboratory medicine, medical genetics and outpatient oncology registered with the Estonian Health Board (license L05386). All our genetic tests are registered as medical devices and CE-marked (IVDD; 98/79 / EC). Our data management complies with GDPR requirements (privacy policy) and all operational processes are designed according to the ISO13485 quality management standard.

What does it mean for me that Antegenes tests are offered as a healthcare service?

We strive to provide an online service that is as convenient as possible. All required activities can be managed online – privately and conveniently without leaving home.

For patients, the provision of tests within the healthcare system only means that Antegenes services comply with all the European Union laws regarding health and genetic data. Test results are also recorded in the digital Estonian Health Information System.

What will be done with my DNA sample?

Your DNA sample will be analyzed with a technology called genotyping. This entails extracting the DNA from the sample and making it into analyzable data. We perform genotyping only in laboratories in the European Union. Laboratories only receive pseudonymized samples, ie. you can not be directly identified. Genotyped data will be further used to conduct your risk analysis.

Your physical DNA sample is destroyed after completion of the analysis.

How is the privacy of my personal data ensured?

Antegenes processes and handles personal data only for specified purposes in accordance with valid legislation. Antegenes does not transmit any personal or health data to parties not directly taking part in providing your ordered service.
All details regarding data handling and its privacy are laid out in our Privacy policy.

Technical questions

What are polygenic risk scores?

Antegenes tests use the polygenic risk score (PRS) approach. PRS is a computational metric that aggregates carrier information from genetic variants to characterize an individual’s predisposition to a studied condition.

Polygenic risk scores can combine information from any number of (risk increasing and lowering) variants to provide an overall estimate. Each individual genetic variant has little effect on the overall risk of the condition, but combining the effects of the individual variants contributes to a clinically significant assessment of the overall disease development risk.

What is genotyping?

Genotyping is a technology that is used to identify the status of known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located all over the genome that are expected to vary between individuals and can thus assume many different states.

How do Antegenes tests work?

All Antegenes tests are explained in more detail under “Tests information“. The scientific background of the tests has been published in the medRxiv repository: AnteBC, AntePC, AnteCRC, AnteMEL.