The principle
The layer a rapid test does not cover
The six analyses complement point-of-care testing on the Igloo reader with what it does not show: individual predisposition and regulatory processes that change over time.
Two layers: genetics and epigenetics
Genetic variants describe unchangeable predisposition. Epigenetic markers show the regulatory state: messenger molecules in the blood (microRNA) and chemical marks on the DNA (DNA methylation). They follow lifestyle and can be measured over time. Only two of the six panels include a genetic analysis — Metabolic Health and the Plus variant of Healthy Sport; the other four are run without one.
Sample material: dried blood card
A few drops of capillary blood from the fingertip go onto a dried blood card. No venipuncture, no centrifuge, no cold chain — sampling in the practice or at home.
Laboratory and reference data
Analysis is carried out by our European cooperation partner: more than 15 years of research, more than 60,000 validated reference values, ISO 9001:2015. Those reference values are the yardstick against which a single result is placed — without them a figure from the laboratory cannot be read. ISO 9001:2015 certifies the quality management of the laboratory; it is not a CE marking and says nothing about the individual analysis.
Key points for your practice
- A consultation tool, not a diagnosis — these analyses do not replace clinical assessment.
- An initial and a follow-up measurement form a plannable programme; the interval is set by the supervising institution — for Metabolic Health and Healthy Aging after 4 to 6 months at the earliest.
- One sampling route, one card type, one cooperation partner for all six analyses.
What the reports actually measure
The reports contain values from four levels. Once the distinction is clear, it is obvious which figures can change and which cannot — and predisposition can be separated from snapshot in the consultation. No value is a diagnosis.
The genes — the blueprint
The genes are the body’s blueprint: they set out how it uses fat and how it transports vitamin D. Small deviations in it are called gene variants, or SNPs — every person carries thousands of them, neither good nor bad. In Germany, genetic analyses fall under the Genetic Diagnostics Act (Gendiagnostikgesetz, GenDG) — information and written consent must be in place before the sample is taken.
The blueprint never changes. A genetic analysis is carried out once in a lifetime; a second measurement would return exactly the same result.
Methylation — the volume controls
The blueprint says nothing about what is being built right now. That is governed by chemical markers sitting on the DNA, which turn individual genes up or down; this system is known as methylation. It responds to diet, exercise, sleep and stress.
These values change. They do not show which genes someone has, but how active those genes currently are — which is what makes them suitable for tracking progress.
MicroRNAs — the messengers in the blood
MicroRNAs are tiny molecules that circulate in the blood and fine-tune gene activity — short messages the body sends out continuously. Their quantity shifts faster than methylation, often within weeks.
Their names always follow the same pattern: "miR" plus a number. The number is simply a catalogue number and says nothing about importance.
Telomeres — the protective caps
At the ends of the chromosomes sit protective caps, much like the plastic tips on shoelaces. These telomeres keep genetic information from being lost when a cell divides — and grow a little shorter with every division.
Telomeres cannot be deliberately lengthened. The only thing open to influence is how quickly they shorten.
And the numbers?
- Traffic light 1–9
The most common format. Red on the left, green on the right; higher is always better: 1–3 red, 4–6 yellow, 7–9 green.
- Percentages
The value in comparison with a reference group. 100 % means: precisely within the expected range.
- Years
A “biological age” calculated from measured values, against chronological age — a calculation, not a determination of age.