How to read
your AuraGen report.
Percentiles, risk tiers, GWAS variants, odds ratios — explained plainly. Understanding your report is the first step to using it well.
What your percentile means.
Your AuraGen PRS percentile places you on a distribution of the reference population (UK Biobank, n=337,000+). It tells you where your inherited risk sits relative to others — not what will happen to you.
Your genetic variants in this panel sit in the lower risk range of the population distribution. This is the most protective tier.
Your score is near the population center. No meaningful elevation above average genetic risk for this trait.
Moderately above average. Worth discussing with your physician, especially if you have other risk factors. Not cause for alarm.
Your genetic predisposition is in the upper quartile of the population. This indicates higher inherited risk — not certainty of disease. It is a signal to be proactive.
Our interactive PRS calculator lets you change genotypes across 6 disease panels and watch your percentile animate live — using the same math as real AuraGen reports.
Key terms explained.
A single number summarizing the cumulative effect of thousands of common genetic variants on your predisposition to a trait or condition. Calculated as the weighted sum of your risk alleles across all variants in a given panel.
Genome-Wide Association Study. A study design that scans hundreds of thousands of genetic variants across large populations to find those statistically associated with a trait. AuraGen uses effect sizes exclusively from published, peer-reviewed GWAS.
A measure of how much a variant changes your odds of developing a condition, relative to the reference population. OR=1.25 means the risk allele is associated with 25% higher odds. AuraGen uses log(OR) as the weight for each variant in the PRS.
The version of a variant associated with higher risk in the GWAS. May be the reference (ref) or alternate (alt) allele depending on the study. You inherit one allele from each parent — so you can carry 0, 1, or 2 copies.
A comparison to a reference population (primarily UK Biobank). 70th percentile means your PRS is higher than 70% of the calibration population. It says nothing about absolute risk — only your position on the inherited risk distribution.
The highest evidence tier from the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium. It means there is strong enough evidence to change drug prescribing based on genotype. AuraGen PGx reports use only Level A evidence.
Cytochrome P450 enzymes — the liver's primary drug-metabolizing proteins. CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP3A4/5, and CYP2C9 together metabolize ~60% of all prescription medications. Your CYP genotype determines whether you are a poor, intermediate, normal, or ultra-rapid metabolizer.
How many standard deviations your raw PRS sits above or below the population mean. Z = (your PRS − population mean) / population SD. The normal CDF converts this to a percentile.
AuraGen reports are Research Use Only and are not FDA-cleared diagnostic tests. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a healthcare provider before making medical decisions based on genetic information.
Common misconceptions.
A high PRS reflects inherited predisposition — not destiny. Genetics is one factor among many. Lifestyle, environment, and early intervention all profoundly modify actual disease risk.
A low PRS reduces inherited risk for that trait but doesn't eliminate it. You can still develop a condition through non-genetic pathways. Favorable genetics are not a substitute for healthy habits.
Most common conditions are polygenic — influenced by thousands of variants, each contributing a tiny amount. No single variant tells the whole story. PRS captures the cumulative picture.
PRS models are primarily validated in European-ancestry populations. AuraGen is transparent about this and applies ancestry-appropriate parameters where available. Multi-ancestry models are improving rapidly.
What to do with your results.
Each report opens with a one-paragraph summary of your overall panel result. Start there before diving into individual variants.
Your percentile places you on the population distribution. The tier (Favorable / Average / Slightly Elevated / Elevated) gives you the actionable category.
For any variant showing a risk allele contribution, the report explains the gene, the biological mechanism, and the GWAS source. Expand the ones most relevant to you.
AuraGen includes a physician summary letter on request. Most primary care physicians and genetic counselors can interpret percentile-based reports. The PGx report includes CPIC guidance your prescriber can act on directly.
Genomic science advances every year. New GWAS, updated CPIC guidelines, and new panels are continuously published. AuraGen Refresh ($29/yr) re-runs your existing sequencing data against updated models annually.
Knowledge that compounds.
Sequence once. Learn forever.
Order a WES or WGS kit and receive Pharmacogenomics, Skin Genomics, and Genetic Wellness reports with every kit — plus raw data that powers every future panel we release.