Source folder: Q&As
Source workbook: Questions and answers.xlsx
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Questions and answers imported from the source spreadsheet.
Question: What is the difference between biological and chronological age?
Answer:
Biological age provides information about how quickly the body ages. This can vary significantly from person to person. Various factors play a role here. However, your own genes, which you have inherited, only make up a smaller proportion. Lifestyle and environmental factors are much more important. Chronological age, on the other hand, is measured in years and says little about the condition of our body.
Question: Who is the test suitable for?
Answer:
The test is suitable for adults aged at least 25 years.
Question: When is the best time to do the test?
Answer:
It is best to carry out the test when you are as calm and healthy as possible. If you have recently overcome an illness or been vaccinated, we recommend that you wait at least 3-6 months before trying the test. Immune-related reasons can lead to strong discrepancies between biological and chronological age, which usually normalize over time
Question: What do I have to pay attention to when running the test?
Answer:
Please follow the operating instructions in your epiAge test kit carefully. The epiAge test is an epigenetic age determination and is carried out in a high-tech laboratory using the most modern scientific methods. In fact, the HKG Epitherapeutics laboratory is run by Prof. Dr. Szyf in Hong Kong is CAP (College of American Pathologists) and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) accredited and therefore works according to particularly stringent and globally recognized standards. However, an insufficient or contaminated sample can cause your test to fail or the result to be distorted.
Question: How should I return my sample to epiAge?
Answer:
If you are sending the test from Germany, the envelope is even stamped and you can simply drop it into the nearest mailbox (no registered mail please!). However, if you are sending it from abroad, we ask that you stamp the envelope as a letter. The shipment is a medical sample and does not require a customs declaration. So please do not send it as a parcel/package with a customs declaration and/or by registered mail! Any resulting costs will otherwise be borne by you. If you (have to) send the envelope using a courier service, e.g. UPS, FedEx, etc., please use our company headquarters address: epiAge Deutschland UG – Jakob-Klar-Str. 4 – 80796 Munich – Deutschland/Germany
Question: How long does it take until I receive my test result?
Answer:
The epiAge test usually takes 2-4 weeks after you send your sample back to us. Deviations are possible in exceptional cases.
Question: What does my test result mean?
Answer:
Your test result represents your epigenetic age. Epigenetic age provides information about how quickly or slowly you age biologically compared to the general population. Are you 53 but feel like you're in your mid-40s? Your epigenetic test result can back up your feeling with scientific facts. In the opposite case, you may want to consider tweaking your lifestyle and diet so that you remain healthy and vital in the long term.
Question: Interpret my result correctly!
Answer:
Take a deep breath when your biological age is noticeably higher or lower...
If the difference between chronological and biological age is very large, irritation, mistrust and even shock can arise. But please take a breath first and let us look at the big picture. The measurement of biological or so-called epigenetic age represents a snapshot and depends on many factors, including:
the correct execution of the test
the quality of the saliva sample,
your general health. Carrying out
the Since epigenetic age is a relatively dynamic process, it is also subject to fluctuations that can often get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Depending on the time the sample was taken, it may well happen that your overall health is significantly strengthened or weakened and you don't know or can't remember why. But to be clear: it doesn't have to mean that a serious illness is lurking. It is enough if you defeated a bacterial infection or Covid-19 a few weeks ago or are still relatively recently vaccinated. We have already written important blog posts about this ( No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 ). Longer-lasting lifestyle changes as well as acute stress, personal crises or environmental factors can also have an influence. In summary, it can be said that it makes sense to carry out testing in quiet times and during normal routines in order to avoid possible distortions of results. If you still have further questions about the results, please contact our support: support@epi-age.de
Question: At what intervals can I carry out an epiAge test to check the effectiveness of my lifestyle changes?
Answer:
You can do a follow-up test to your epiAge test at any time. It is even advisable to test your epigenetic age regularly. You can use it to review your lifestyle interventions and longevity measures. We generally recommend a period of 6 months between two tests. However, due to the high level of accuracy, shorter intervals are also possible, for example after relevant changes to your lifestyle or diet.
Question: Will my genetic data be stored?
Answer:
No. Neither we nor our partner laboratory store genetic data. Only methylation markers on your DNA are read. After the analysis process, your sample will be destroyed after some time.
Question: What security measures are used to protect my data?
Answer:
Your sample is provided with a Secure ID number. We issue this anonymously and can no longer be assigned to a specific customer. Once the analysis has been completed, the test result will be automatically sent to you using the Secure ID to the email address you provided during registration.