Everything you might want to know before you start — how testing works, what to expect, and how to choose the right level for you.
Add a one-time DNA test for $99 when you sign up. We send a simple at-home saliva kit — no blood, no clinic visit. You mail it back, the lab processes it, and we build your report from the results. If you already have data from 23andMe or Ancestry, you can skip the test entirely and upload your file for free.
It depends on how you start:
We'll keep you posted at every step, and your coaching prep begins while you wait (more on that below).
Yes — and it's free. Our analysis reads your raw data file directly, so there's no reason to retest or pay for a new kit. This is one of the easiest ways to get started.
We work with raw data files from 23andMe, Ancestry, and Sequencing.com. If you'd like to test fresh, we use Dynamic DNA Labs. Have data from a different provider? Just ask — we can often work with it.
Yes. Your genes don't change over time, so a file from an older test works exactly the same as a brand-new one. If your file is in an unusually old format, we'll let you know if anything's needed.
Both options exist. If you already have 23andMe, Ancestry, or Sequencing.com data, everything is done from your uploaded file — no kit, no mailing. If you don't have data yet, we'll send a saliva kit to get you started.
Once you sign up, we send you clear step-by-step instructions for your specific testing company. The short version: log into your testing account, download your raw data file, and upload it through your secure GeneWise client portal. We'll walk you through it if you get stuck.
This time is built into the program on purpose. While your data is being processed, we get clear on your goals, your current habits, and where you're ready to start. So the moment your results arrive, we can move straight into action instead of starting from scratch.
Not at all. For coaching clients, the program begins before your results are even back — we treat the waiting period as the foundation. The reflection and prep you do now are what make your results genuinely actionable later.
Through your secure client portal. You'll get a polished Genetic Insights Report you can keep, revisit, and reference any time.
Your Genetic Insights Report walks through the pathways we analyzed, your top priority findings explained in plain language, what each one means for your specific goals, and clear direction on where to focus first. It's built from an analysis of 219 genetic markers — not a single-gene lookup.
The report tells you what your genes say. Coaching is what to do about it — a personalized, step-by-step plan delivered across your sessions. The report creates understanding; the coaching turns that understanding into real change. The gap between knowing and doing is exactly where coaching earns its keep.
Sessions are held over secure video through your client portal, so you can join from anywhere. If you're local to the Baltimore–DC area, in-person sessions can be scheduled based on availability.
Consumer reports hand you generic blurbs. GeneWise goes further: we analyze 219 markers, look at how genes interact with each other (not one at a time), grade every insight by the strength of the science behind it, and pair it all with coaching so you can actually apply it to your life.
We're also honest about the limits. Genetics inform your choices — they don't determine them — and we'll always tell you what the science does and doesn't say.
No. GeneWise focuses on nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle — not diagnosis, disease risk, or treatment. We're an educational wellness service, and we'll always point you to a qualified healthcare professional for anything medical.
A small group moves through the program together over 10–12 weeks, with 6 live sessions plus a community space. You learn the science alongside others — but you still receive your own personalized report based on your own DNA, and you apply everything to your own genetics.
Groups are kept small on purpose — typically 8–12 people — so there's room for real questions and individual attention.
10–12 weeks total, with 6 live sessions, plus ongoing access to the group community throughout.
Yes. Your report is built from your own DNA — the group format is for shared learning and accountability, but your findings and your protocols are entirely yours.
Live sessions are recorded, so you can catch up any time and never miss the material.
A quick guide:
Still torn? Book a $49 discovery call — it's credited toward your program if you enroll.
Yes — plenty of people start small and decide they want more support. Reach out and we'll help you move up to the right level. If you upgrade within 30 days of your original payment, what you've already paid is credited toward the higher tier.
It's a $49, no-pressure call to figure out which level fits your goals. It isn't refundable on its own — but the full $49 is credited toward your program if you decide to enroll.
Already have 23andMe or Ancestry data? Upload it free — that's included. No data yet? Add a one-time DNA test for $99.
Current prices for each level — Quick Scan, Essential, Comprehensive, and Group — are always listed on our pricing page.
Your service agreement has the full details and controls if anything conflicts with this summary. See our Terms for more.
Your information is managed through Practice Better, a HIPAA-compliant platform, and we follow HIPAA-aligned privacy and security practices. We use your genetic and health data only to produce your report and deliver your coaching — nothing else. We keep it only as long as needed to provide your services and meet legal obligations, and you can ask us to delete it at any time. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.
No. We never sell your genetic or personal data, and we never share your genetic data with health, life, disability, or long-term-care insurers, with employers, or with any other third party without your written consent. We share information only as needed to run your services — for example with Practice Better and Stripe, with our DNA testing partner if you order a test through us, or with authorities if the law requires it. See our Privacy Policy for the specifics.
No. GeneWise provides educational wellness and nutrition coaching, not medical diagnosis or treatment. Our insights are meant to inform your lifestyle choices and are not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
GeneWise was founded by Erin Stamper — a Johns Hopkins–trained biologist with a Master's in Biotechnology and 20 years of teaching experience. Every insight we give you is graded by the strength of the evidence behind it and traceable to published research — and we'll always be upfront about what the science does not say. Honesty is part of the method, not a footnote.