With the rise of consumer genetic testing, the wide range of home DNA test kits prompts a consideration of accuracy and value. Finding the right partner for your consumer genetics company is vital for scientific accuracy, reliability, and a healthy long-term relationship. Here are the considerations for finding the perfect lab partner for your consumer genetics company.
Reputation
First things first, what are the credentials of the laboratory? The credentialing requirement for labs that perform DNA testing varies from one country to another and depends on whether the testing is done for medical diagnostic purposes. Even if your clients do not seek DNA testing for medical reasons but ancestry, wellness, or personal reasons, you should use a lab with the proper credentials and standards.
- Is the lab transparent with its practices?
- Is the lab vigorous with its assay validation protocols?
- How many batches of samples do they run every week?
These are some questions to help you assess a prospective pharmacogenomics partner.
Security
You will be entrusting your customer’s DNA to your lab partner, so you should be assured that the lab maintains stringent security and privacy measures. The lab should have a reliable way of de-identifying consumers’ data. When they receive a sample or transfer the genetic data to your company, it should be secure, and a consumer’s DNA should not be linked with identifying information like names.
Do not hesitate to ask questions regarding a lab’s data sharing policy. Some labs do not share any genetic data with any entity apart from the paying consumer, and others share de-identified data with public databases to share information about genetics. Still, some labs have lenient data-sharing policies that you should know beforehand.
Generally, consider how the lab will be sharing data with you and how much they are willing to share. The data sharing policy impacts your subsequent capability to conduct research with the data or market it to other potential partners.
Technology Flexibility
There are different technologies for genomics. The best lab partner offers the best of these technologies and helps you identify the right one for your company and DNA products. Note that what works for other clients may not necessarily work for your company, where flexibility comes in.
Thankfully some of the big genotyping arrays that support consumer genetics products are capable of accepting custom DNA markers. A reliable genomics lab partner will help you strategize on which DNA variants you need on your panel and which ones to integrate in the future to scale your growth.
Pricing
Pricing is another critical consideration when looking for a genomics partner. A reliable lab partner will provide flexible and competitive prices and even offer additional perks. For instance, some labs offer end-to-end logistics such as shipping saliva kits to customers beyond receiving and processing DNA samples. A lab that provides competitive pricing invests in your company’s growth hence a long-term partnership.
The Final Words
Choosing the right lab partner for genomics requires a lot of diligence. Consider the pricing, reliability, and technology flexibility for a true business partnership that lasts.