What actually happens to my saliva and DNA once I seal the envelope and post it to the laboratory? The fear that our most intimate information—our genetics—might be exposed or used without our consent is completely understandable.
That is why we start from a clear premise: strictly complying with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is merely our starting point. Our IT security and ethical protocols operate well above what the law requires. If you would like to thoroughly understand how we structure the secure storage of the sample and the custody of your information, we invite you to read our article on tellmeGen's core and the protection of your data.
1. Anonymity and security from the source
We apply advanced pseudonimisation and digital dissociation processes that transform personal data into an uncrackable key for any external agent.
How does this step-by-step process work from the moment you open the kit at home?
- Your personal data never travels with your sample: Your first name, surname, or address are never printed on the sample.
- The unique barcode: The envelope only has a label attached with a completely anonymous and random barcode.
- Isolation in the laboratory and on the network: Technicians process samples identified solely by barcodes. On our digital servers, your physical identity and genomic data are separated into distinct databases and isolated via airtight encryption gateways. No one can associate your name with your genetic sequence at a glance.
2. Zero data sharing with insurers and third parties
Peace of mind and corporate ethics must be absolute. At tellmeGen, we guarantee total protection against the most common fears in the biotech sector:
- Insurers kept out: Health or life insurance companies will not have access to your genetic results. This protection is backed by both European legislation and our strictest corporate policy.
- Zero data trading: Your genetic data is not sold to third parties, such as pharmaceutical companies, for commercial purposes or mass profit. Any use for scientific research purposes always requires your explicit, prior, and fully anonymised consent.
To delve specifically into absolute control over your deep-reading files and understand how we protect your raw data, we recommend checking out our post dedicated to key reasons why tellmeGen protects your raw data.
3. Power in your hands
True privacy is not limited to a company storing data securely, but rather ensuring that you are the absolute owner of your genomic information and can make decisions about it at any time.
We offer you total autonomy through your user panel:
- Permanent deletion: You can request the definitive erasure of your data and complete history directly from your account settings, at any time.
- Physical destruction of the sample: Your saliva sample is physically destroyed in the laboratory once the analysis is complete and the periods established by current biological regulations have elapsed.
- Revocation of consent: You have absolute freedom to revoke your research or participation consents at any time with a single click.
Discovering your genetics—whether through our Advanced DNA test or via 30x whole genome sequencing—should be an exciting, fascinating, and completely free experience. At tellmeGen, we work every day to ensure that science and maximum IT security go hand in hand, safeguarding your privacy so that you only have to worry about discovering what your body has to say.
Ready to discover your ancestry and health without risks? Take the step today with total confidence. Your information is safe with us.
