GeneSaver DNA Preservation Service

GeneSaver® DNA Preservation Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why was the GeneSaver service developed?

A. We realized the importance of saving precious genetic data that is currently being lost or destroyed when a person dies.

Q. How can this data be used?

A. Your DNA data can already be used to trace your ancestry through "gene fingerprinting" and uncover thte presence of heritable diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. But an enormous genome research project is now revealing the genetic basis of many other diseases, some of which may be prevented or cured. Important new findings are being reported nearly every week. We are only just beginning to realize the benefits of all this new information.

Q. Can't genetic studies be done if you get one of these diseases?

A. Yes, but that data is more useful for determining prognosis and management than for screening. The very earliest DNA changes would be those inherited from parents in the germline, present since birth and requiring a second genetic lesion or some environmental factor to cause the development of cancer. That is why it will be so important to have genetic records from the parents.

Q. Is genetic screening available for any particular diseases?

A. Genetic screening is available to determine predisposition to more and more diseases, such as breast and ovarian cancer, colonic cancer, etc. Check websites of foundations concerned with any disease you suspect may be in the family.

Also, be sure to obtain a copy of "My Family Health Portrait", issued by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services--learn how family history is now combined with DNA studies to improve family health. (It can be ordered by phone at 1-888-8-PUEBLO, Mon.-Fri. 8 AM to 8 PM, or by writing "My Family Health Portrait", Pueblo, CO 81009.)

Q. How can I save genetic samples for future use, either by me or by my children?

A. We at GeneSaver have made it so easy! All we need is a drop of your fingertip blood for each sample in one of our little vials. We do the rest! We process the sample right in the same vial, then seal it for your use in the future, whenever you decide to use it.

Q. I've heard that insurance companies have obtained DNA data from gene banks and refused some people insurance. Could this happen to me?

A. We return the sealed, processed samples all to you, so only you can decide how they are to be used! Privacy is assured. GeneSaver guarantees that your samples will not be used by the Company or its employees for research or for any genetic analyses.

Q. How should I keep my samples? Is storage going to be a problem?

A. Your lyophilized sample has been sealed in an airtight vial. The vial is then sealed in a strong opaque container to protect it from light and breakage. You can store it anywhere you like at room temperature. It should not be opened until you decide to have genetic studies done and then it should be opened in the laboratory you have chosen. The main reason for this is to avoid contamination of your sample. GeneSaver has made every effort to prevent your sample from becoming contaminated, so don't open it before you want it analyzed!

Q. I might want to make gifts of one or more gene samples to my children. Do I have a choice of containers?

A. You do! The simplest container would be a small plastic cylinder measuring about 2.5 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. You will also have a choice of more elaborate containers available in various hardwoods or in plastic. These containers are modeled after the ancient Chinese jade Ts'ung, an object which they buried with their dead as long ago as 5,000 B.C. The Ts'ung is a cylinder within a cube and is ideally suited for preserving a gene vial sample. Your name and other important data are engraved on the end of the cylinder or on a brass plate on other styles so they will be there for future generations to read!

Interlocking ABS plastic containers are also available. Families and funeral directors find these especially useful for preserving DNA from related individuals.

Q. Can this be done by mail?

A. Yes! You can collect your own samples with our kit and return them by mail to our GeneSaver Division. Your processed samples are returned to you in their engraved individual containers by registered mail or UPS, together with a certificate verifying you have preserved valuable genetic data.

Q. Can samples be saved from deceased persons?

A. Yes, the funeral director can obtain as many samples as you wish prior to embalming or cremation. In this case, after receiving appropriate written permission, we use a small sample of epithelial cells, rather than blood (which has congealed). There will be no visible evidence of the sampling process. Samples are then preserved in the same manner as blood and are returned directly to the family in engraved containers by priority mail with delivery confirmation.