Comments on: Interview with Derek W. Hornby of Suracell Personal Genetic Health http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/ How will it change your life? Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:33:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: DNA Network Members Discuss Personal Genomics Service Providers 23andMe, deCODEme, and Navigenics http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-21876 DNA Network Members Discuss Personal Genomics Service Providers 23andMe, deCODEme, and Navigenics Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:45:33 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-21876 [...] information at the heart of nutrigenomic companies like Sciona and Suracell (for more info, see my interview with Suracell Chief Information Officer Derek Hornby) except that Sciona doesn’t sell nutritional supplements like [...] [...] information at the heart of nutrigenomic companies like Sciona and Suracell (for more info, see my interview with Suracell Chief Information Officer Derek Hornby) except that Sciona doesn’t sell nutritional supplements like [...]

]]> By: BlogMix: full of genetics « ScienceRoll http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-867 BlogMix: full of genetics « ScienceRoll Fri, 15 Jun 2007 19:53:41 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-867 [...] Interview with Derek W. Hornby of Suracell Personal Genetic Health (Eye on DNA) Hsien is giving Derek W. Hornby, Chief Information Officer of Suracell Personal Genetic Health, a chance to defend his company and nutrigenomics in general in the interview. [...] [...] Interview with Derek W. Hornby of Suracell Personal Genetic Health (Eye on DNA) Hsien is giving Derek W. Hornby, Chief Information Officer of Suracell Personal Genetic Health, a chance to defend his company and nutrigenomics in general in the interview. [...]

]]> By: Hsien http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-681 Hsien Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:27:05 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-681 Brian, I'll be in touch so you'll have another opportunity to tell us about Salugen. Thanks! Brian, I’ll be in touch so you’ll have another opportunity to tell us about Salugen. Thanks!

]]> By: Brian Meshkin http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-668 Brian Meshkin Sat, 09 Jun 2007 21:38:10 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-668 Salugen's SpaGen program is actually far more scientific than Suracell's program. We would appreciate the chance to be interviewed. With Salugen's program, we are hardly a "half-Suracell" program. In fact, we have 6,500 evidence-based rules in our assessment including analyses of health, diet, lifestyle, nutrient depletions and interactions with prescription and over the county medications, and a DNA analysis of a panel of genes. Each SpaGen is completely personalized, whereas Suracell uses its laboratory testing to "qualify" you for their standard or extra-strength core nutritional product and then "qualify" you for their one-size-fits-all product formulas. SpaGen is completely personalized for you. Suracell is DNA-qualification for their one-size-fits-all product. SpaGen is personalized through DNA-customization. You cannot compare the products, as Suracell's solutions can be inventoried and stocked in one-size-fits-all bottles. To say that it is personalized or customized is an exaggeration. No two SpaGens are alike so there is no inventory of bottles because no two SpaGen customers are alike, thus their SpaGens are unique as well. We would appreciate the chance to be interviewed as well. Thanks. Salugen’s SpaGen program is actually far more scientific than Suracell’s program. We would appreciate the chance to be interviewed. With Salugen’s program, we are hardly a “half-Suracell” program. In fact, we have 6,500 evidence-based rules in our assessment including analyses of health, diet, lifestyle, nutrient depletions and interactions with prescription and over the county medications, and a DNA analysis of a panel of genes. Each SpaGen is completely personalized, whereas Suracell uses its laboratory testing to “qualify” you for their standard or extra-strength core nutritional product and then “qualify” you for their one-size-fits-all product formulas. SpaGen is completely personalized for you. Suracell is DNA-qualification for their one-size-fits-all product. SpaGen is personalized through DNA-customization. You cannot compare the products, as Suracell’s solutions can be inventoried and stocked in one-size-fits-all bottles. To say that it is personalized or customized is an exaggeration. No two SpaGens are alike so there is no inventory of bottles because no two SpaGen customers are alike, thus their SpaGens are unique as well. We would appreciate the chance to be interviewed as well.

Thanks.

]]> By: NA http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-664 NA Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:33:12 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-664 Deleted. Posted under the wrong thread on accident. Deleted. Posted under the wrong thread on accident.

]]> By: Hsien http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-650 Hsien Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:05:48 +0000 http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/08/interview-with-derek-w-hornby-of-suracell-personal-genetic-health/#comment-650 More of my thoughts on the Laboratory Information Act: Some of the concerns raised about at-home genetic testing: 1. <i>More is UNknown about genes and their function than IS known.</i> But I would counter that to say that for genes, such as BRCA for breast and ovarian, we know enough to predict a person’s risk fairly accurately. Is it fair to lump all genes together? 2. <i>No one-on-one counseling is available for direct-to-consumer tests.</i> This service varies between companies so if you’re uncomfortable not having access to a trained genetics professional, only purchase tests that give you a toll-free access number or email. Or if strict privacy isn’t a concern, you could always take the results to your private physician or genetics counselor and ask for help interpreting them. Keep in mind that not all physicians are trained in clinical genetics. 3. <i>Medical privacy may be violated when results are posted online.</i> A moot point when we’re moving towards electronic medical records (EMR) and so many of us purchase products online with credit cards. 4. <i>No oversight.</i> I have to agree that this one is a true concern. Almost anyone can create a genetic testing company as long as they have a laboratory that can perform the tests. This is why it’s important to do your research as well as keep in mind that if a company is doing a hard-sell for you to purchase supplements or other “accessories” for your health, there’s an ulterior motive to report your genome as having deleterious mutations. As with all medical services, there are good apples and bad apples. And even though we’re calling all at-home DNA tests “apples,” there are actually many different varieties. Nutrigenomic testing and paternity testing cannot and should not be likened to disease or susceptibility testing. Fortunately, because at-home DNA tests are still apples (meaning they all test for genetic variations), you can compare them relatively easily. If I were in the market, I would check the specific genes being analyed, the labs conducting the tests, privacy guarantees, the reputation of the people involved in the company, the resources available to the consumer for understanding their test results, price, and hidden hooks that try to get you to buy more products. Some of these answers will be easier to access if the bill passes and a public database is made available. But you may not need the info if the bill also clamps down on the sale of at-home consumer DNA tests. <i>Disclosure</i>: I am currently a consultant for DNA Direct. More of my thoughts on the Laboratory Information Act:

Some of the concerns raised about at-home genetic testing:

1. More is UNknown about genes and their function than IS known.

But I would counter that to say that for genes, such as BRCA for breast and ovarian, we know enough to predict a person’s risk fairly accurately. Is it fair to lump all genes together?

2. No one-on-one counseling is available for direct-to-consumer tests.

This service varies between companies so if you’re uncomfortable not having access to a trained genetics professional, only purchase tests that give you a toll-free access number or email. Or if strict privacy isn’t a concern, you could always take the results to your private physician or genetics counselor and ask for help interpreting them. Keep in mind that not all physicians are trained in clinical genetics.

3. Medical privacy may be violated when results are posted online.

A moot point when we’re moving towards electronic medical records (EMR) and so many of us purchase products online with credit cards.

4. No oversight.

I have to agree that this one is a true concern. Almost anyone can create a genetic testing company as long as they have a laboratory that can perform the tests. This is why it’s important to do your research as well as keep in mind that if a company is doing a hard-sell for you to purchase supplements or other “accessories” for your health, there’s an ulterior motive to report your genome as having deleterious mutations.

As with all medical services, there are good apples and bad apples. And even though we’re calling all at-home DNA tests “apples,” there are actually many different varieties. Nutrigenomic testing and paternity testing cannot and should not be likened to disease or susceptibility testing.

Fortunately, because at-home DNA tests are still apples (meaning they all test for genetic variations), you can compare them relatively easily. If I were in the market, I would check the specific genes being analyed, the labs conducting the tests, privacy guarantees, the reputation of the people involved in the company, the resources available to the consumer for understanding their test results, price, and hidden hooks that try to get you to buy more products. Some of these answers will be easier to access if the bill passes and a public database is made available. But you may not need the info if the bill also clamps down on the sale of at-home consumer DNA tests.

Disclosure: I am currently a consultant for DNA Direct.

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