Polygenic risk score
Adds up many small genetic effects to estimate your risk for conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
TypeGenetic
HowSaliva or blood sample.
How oftenOnce.
Before—
WhoCurious, prevention-focused users.
Thousands of small genetic nudges, added up
Most common diseases aren’t caused by one gene but by thousands of small ones. A polygenic score adds them up to estimate where you sit compared with other people.
Higher score
“Am I at higher risk?”
May support earlier screening or prevention.
Earlier action
Lower score
“Can I relax?”
Lifestyle and other risks still matter most.
Not a free pass
Limits
“How accurate is it?”
Still evolving, and less accurate for people of non-European ancestry.
Evolving
Is it right for you?
Worth considering if…
- You want an extra layer of risk information.
A better option if…
- You want proven risk tools - ApoB, Lp(a) and a calcium score are more established.
How it’s measured
Genotyping-based score
Calculated from many variants.
The full picture
What is it?
A score combining thousands of genetic variants.
What type of test is it?
A genetic test.
What does it measure?
Relative genetic risk for specific conditions.
Why might someone consider it?
To add genetic context to risk.
Who is it most relevant for?
Curious users.
How is it performed?
A saliva or blood sample.
How often might it be considered?
Once.
What can the result help you understand?
Whether your inherited risk is higher or lower than average.
What are its limitations?
Less accurate in non-European ancestry; not yet standard care.
What should it be viewed with?
Biomarkers, family history and lifestyle.
Where to get it
Through your provider
Often with a genetic counselor - and more likely covered when family history supports it.
Genetic counseling services
Help you decide what to test and what results mean.
Direct-to-consumer tests
Available, but results should be confirmed clinically before acting on them.
Names are examples only, not endorsements. Your provider can often order the same test - and help interpret it.
Connected to
Questions to ask your provider
- Would a polygenic score change anything for me?
Ziva Health
One test is a snapshot. Ziva shows the whole story.
Ziva brings your lab results, wearables and daily readings together - and Isabella tells you what’s changing and what to ask your provider next.
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Is your provider not on Ziva yet? Send them a link in under a minute - once they join, they’ll see your Polygenic risk score result alongside your other trends and get alerts directly.
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Bring your Ziva 30-day report to your next appointment - your Polygenic risk score result and daily trends in one view, so the conversation starts with the full picture.
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Being listed doesn’t mean everyone needs this test. Educational only — not medical advice. Results should be interpreted with a qualified clinician. ← Back to Know What to Test