7 replies to this topic

[Goldfinger]

Hello

I just ordered a 23 and Me kit for the purpose of determining my ancestry. Was wondering if my CML would skew the results. I did ask them and they said as long as my white blood cell count is normal, their shouldn't be an issue. Then I asked them if the fact the only reason it's normal is because I'm on medication to control it..... Tasigna. They couldn't answer me.

Has anyone here taken one of these ancestry type tests while on Tasigna? If there's any doubt about the results due to my CML, I would just as soon give the kit to another sibling.

I've heard the cons about this technology. I'm 67 and on Medicare. So they can do whatever they want with my results. Every technology has a pro and a con. I'm an optimist.

[Melanie]

When 23 and Me first got started, they were looking for volunteers to donate their DNA for blood disorders research. They started as a DNA medical research company. They contacted me shortly after I was dx over 6 years ago and I donated, then every so often they would send me a survey to fill out. I still get them as well as medical reach results, based off my DNA and others. It's very interesting. Then, about two years ago, their data base was getting so large that they decided to branch out into ancestry too. I got the full background on that too.

Never once was there a question about wbc or any other counts being normal. I'm panocytopenic (all blood counts low) and it didn't appear to have any effect on results.

I've also done the Ancestry.com one. The two are comparable, but Ancestry's data base is much larger. I've been doing ancestry as a hobby for 10 years and to be honest I don't find the DNA part of it very helpful because you still need to research and verify sources. It does help you connect to relatives you may not know though.

Hope this helps you.

[Lori's okay]

A friend of mine is an expert in DNA in genealogy.  I've sent her your question, will let you know if she replies.

[Goldfinger]

Lori's Okay

Thanks. I'd like to hear from an expert instead of a customer service representative.

[CallMeLucky]

I joined 23&Me during their Blood cancer trial.  I haven't seen anything there that suggests having CML had an impact on what they deliver.

[Goldfinger]

If you had abnormal or a high white blood cell count, I was told that would throw the results off. I was emailing a customer service representative so maybe she really wasn't qualified to answer the question.

[CallMeLucky]

My blood counts were well back to normal when I joined, so I can't speak to that.

[Trey]

This type of test looks at broken down DNA from saliva white blood cells.  I do not believe the ancestry testing could see full chromosomes since the sample collection process does not preserve full cell chromosome structure, only the pieces of DNA which has been broken down, and CML is not discoverable in the DNA except by looking at full chromosomes.  From looking at the pieces of DNA the test results paint a chromosome map, but chromosome 22 is partially vacant in their testing process where the CML translocation would be found if it were even discoverable (which I highly doubt).  Also, saliva has almost no higher level blood cells (i.e., no stem cells).  Because of that, there would not be a marker of CML for anyone who has responded to TKI drugs past CCyR (a zero FISH).