What to Know About CRI Genetics Tests
More and more people are turning to at-home genetic testing kits to gather information about their ethnicity, personal family history, and health.
Direct-to-consumer genealogy tests have grown in popularity, especially in the United States over the last several years.
“Today, there is a DNA testing service on the market. We have outlined the company’s methods, products, and customer feedback.”
Since 2016 it has sold direct-to-consumer DNA testing kits.
The tools and features that are available from CRI Genetics make complex DNA science easy to understand. Ancestors and histories of different regions can be seen in the animations offered by CRI Genetics.
ancestry, health, allergy, and weight loss are some of the main areas of focus for the products of CRI Genetics.
“The company claims to be accurate. Hundreds of thousands of genetic markers are used in its proprietary DNA algorithm. The accuracy of the results can’t be substantiated because of the validity of the testing methods.”
CLIA, which stands for
What affects accuracy of genetic tests?
The reference population is the ultimate factor in determining the accuracy of an ethnicity estimate.
The bigger the reference panel, the more people can see your results.
The size of the reference panel is not known, but it is most likely smaller than some of its competitors that have been collecting reference material for a long time.
When the sample is collected correctly, a cheek swab is reliable.
Common mistakes in sample collection are more likely to be made at home.
Can I make health decisions based on these tests?
“You probably shouldn’t. The health side of the business has been questioned by the scientific community.”
There is no evidence that genetic testing can determine the health aspects of your health, such as nutrition and weight loss, that CRI Genetics attempts to report on.
People who are curious about genetic information should look at CRI Genetics.
This is not a clinical-grade test and is not designed for use by hospitals or medical professionals.
The purpose of the recreational DNA test is to help people understand what their genes tell them.
People looking for a clinical-grade test could try a company such as Color.
Pros
- The basic ancestry package is one of the cheaper options.
- You belong to a haplogroup.
- Background content helps contextualize results.
- An interesting element is added by interactive features and animations.
Cons
- The reference panel is unknown but is likely smaller than other competitors.
- The test is not clinical.
- “Some conclusions can’t be substantiated with scientific evidence.”
The steps to using CRI Genetics can be broken down.
- Order your test online. You can choose between five different test options, depending on the type of results you are looking for.
- Collect and send your DNA sample. Collect your DNA sample via a cheek swab. Instructions on how to take the sample are included in the kit. Once finished, use the prepaid envelope to mail your sample to the CRI Genetics lab.
- Explore your results. When the results are ready, you will receive an email prompting you to log in to the online portal.
The negative reviews of the company highlight its weaknesses around the breadth of its reference panel and transparency of its pricing model.
Customers on Amazon generally report displeasure with the test, lack of detailed information, and overly aggressive sales strategy, even though they only have a 1.8 out of 5 stars.
Customers were happy with the reports and said they were interesting. CRI Genetics is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has a B rating.
There are more than 600 complaints against CRI Genetics on the Better Business Bureau website.
ancestry, health, allergies, and weight loss are some of the products offered by CRI Genetics.
Pricing guide
Here is a closer look at the different types of tests. Prices are as follows.
- $ = under $80
- $$ = $80–$150
- $$$ = over $150
Ancestry + Traits
- Price: $
The CRI Genetics test looks for more than 600,000 markers in the genome and can reveal more recent ancestry and maternal and paternal lines.
Your results will include a percentage breakdown of your ethnicity, an ancestral timeline, haplogroup, and famous people list.
A basic trait report will explain how genetics may affect hand-eye coordination, hair loss, food cravings, and more.
The size of the reference panel may affect the reliability of the ancestry test results.
Ancestry + Health
- Price: $$
This includes everything that comes with the package, plus more than 120 reports about health and wellbeing, nutrition, allergy, metabolism, and weight loss.
Customers will receive reports that suggest how their genetics may affect their response to alcohol or caffeine.
The scientific community recommends that health suggestions be considered just that: suggestions.
There is no evidence to support the claims made in health reports and no changes to your medication should be made without first consulting your doctor.
Allergy + Health
- Price: $$$
The package includes allergy, health, and weight loss reports, without ancestry reporting.
Customers will receive reports about their susceptibility to allergens based on their genes. They will receive a custom weight loss profile and reports on their health and wellbeing.
Note that claims made about allergies linked to genetic background are not supported by scientific evidence. In fact,
Compare other allergy testing kits.
Weight Loss
- Price: $$
The package focuses on reports about weight and weight loss. It will include a custom weight loss profile, which will suggest a plan for your genetic makeup, and reports on nutrition and metabolism.
Note that scientific research shows DNA is not a reliable indicator of dietary response. For example, a
Weight Loss + Health
- Price: $$$
This package includes weight loss reporting and all the other health reports from CRI Genetics.
Consumers should be aware that there is no clinical evidence that shows the health aspects of this package.
The basic ancestry products of four of the main competitors are compared.
| Company name | Basic price | Haplogroup included? | Health add-on offered (with additional fee) | FDA authorized? | Clinical grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRI Genetics | $69 | yes | yes | no | no |
| 23andMe | $79 | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Ancestry | $99 | no | yes | no | no |
| MyHeritage | $79 | no | yes | no | no |
| Nebula | $99 | no | yes | no | no |
23andMe is a company that offers ethnicity results in addition to health information.
23andMe has a database of 5 million records that can be analyzed, and it is considered to have a more accurate test than CRI Genetics. The FDA authorized it, whereas the health test is not.
TheFamous People section, an interactive map, and a timeline of when ancestors entered your family tree are all features that are not found with 23andMe.
“If you don’t get your results back within 8 weeks, you will get your money back, which is not offered by 23andMe.”
Is CRI Genetics a legitimate company?
Scientists and genetics researchers created a methodology for the company that is now known as CRI Genetics.
The tests from CRI Genetics are not FDA authorized.
Does CRI genetics show Native American ancestry?
There is Native American DNA in the reference panel.
History and genetics make it difficult to determine a specific tribe. Each tribe has its own set of laws that can affect who can claim indigenous citizenship.
How long does CRI Genetics take?
It will take 5 days for your kit to arrive in the mail, according to the company. It will take about 8 weeks for you to get your results after you receive the DNA sample.
Is my data secure?
The data is kept secure by removing all identifying information as soon as the sample arrives in the lab.
You can request the company to destroy or remove your data if you download it.
The site of CRI Genetics has an ssds certificate.
CRI Genetics is a good option for people who are interested in genetics for recreational purposes.
People who want clinical-grade health results or the accuracy of a reference panel may want to investigate some larger competitors.
