COVID-19 Testing

Accuracy and precision are important considerations for any lab test. They can be expressed statistically in terms of a test's coefficient of variation (CV) which is typically expressed as a percentage - the lower the better. We are the world’s only lab to successfully publish the analytical validation of our telomere test method in a peer reviewed scientific journal. In our analytical validation of the TeloYears test, we have shown that the same sample analyzed on twelve different days resulted in less than 2% CVs (Blauwkamp et al JALM 2:4 2017). This is extremely good for a lab developed test such as ours and indicates a high level of precision and reproducibility surrounding our method of relative average telomere length measurement.

Our TeloYears lab is CLIA certified. This means our lab has met rigorous quality standards (including qualifications for certain individuals) and passed inspections to ensure accuracy and reliability of the results as regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which is who regulates laboratory testing in the USA through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The TeloYears lab is regulated under CLIA as qualified to perform high complexity clinical testing. Based on passing recent inspections and meeting stringent quality standards, we have earned a CLIA Certificate of Compliance, which we keep current at all times. The performance characteristics of TeloYears were determined by Telomere Diagnostics.

Because your telomere analysis is performed in our own US laboratory, which has been inspected & certified to comply with standards under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988. A CLIA-certified lab must meet high quality standards, including qualifications for staff who perform the test & process controls to ensure accurate, reliable results.

Blood is the standard sample collection method used for telomere measurement in the scientific literature as it is typically more reliable than saliva. The TeloYears method to collect a drop of blood via a simple fingerstick offers the best combination of reliability and convenience. There are plenty of cells (up to 50,000) in a single drop of blood for us to reliably measure your telomeres. In addition, you can perform the fingerstick in the comfort of your own home. You do not need to go to a doctor’s office or laboratory for a routine blood draw. While telomeres could be measured from saliva, the result can be more variable due to external factors like toothpaste, food, phlegm, coffee, and other contaminants.

To ensure accuracy, TeloYears adheres to high quality standards and tests blood samples it receives for DNA degradation. Occasionally, a new sample may be required if the initial sample was mishandled or delayed by the US Postal Service in a way that causes the sample to become unusable. This is usually less than 5% of the time.

Update: In this time of national crisis, we have refocused our longstanding expertise to offer COVID-19 testing using our established PCR testing capability, equipment, and quality system. Therefore, our normal turnaround of 3-4 weeks for TeloYears results is now estimated to be 4-5 weeks. Sorry for the inconvenience.

To ensure quality, the TeloYears lab uses a highly complex process including DNA extraction, quantification, normalization, and amplification as part of our proprietary quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) telomere length measurement assay. It will typically take 3-4 weeks to get your results once we receive your sample, but it can be sooner. As soon as they are available, your results will be uploaded to a secure online portal and you will receive an email on how to access it.

Yes. In fact, a growing number of doctors across the US are now ordering TeloYears directly from us for their own patients.