Narcolepsy Risk DNA Test

Do you struggle to stay awake throughout the day?
You may have narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder caused by disrupting the balance between sleep-awake cycles. Take this DNA test to find out whether your involuntary daytime naps may be due to narcolepsy.

• Detects the HLA-DQB1*06:02 variant
• People with two copies of HLA-DQB1*06:02 are at 7X to 25X increased risk
• 100% private and confidential online results
• Painless sample collection

The Genetics

Approximately 90-99% of people with narcolepsy carry a variant of the HLA-DQB1 gene known as the HLA-DQB1*06:02 allele.

Variants Tested:

•  Two copies of HLA-DQ1b*06:02 = 7X – 25X increased risk of narcolepsy (or potentially up to 250X increased risk!)
•  One copy of HLA-DQB1*06:02 + an alternative HLA-DQB1 allele = 3X increased risk (depending on the risk or protective affect of the alternative allele)
•  Absence of HLA-DQB1*06:02 = Low risk of narcolepsy

However, 15 – 25% of the unaffected people, also carry the HLA-DQB1*06:02 variant, suggesting genetics is not the only factor that contributes to narcolepsy. Multiple other HLA-DQB1 variants also exist, and many of these provide some protection from narcolepsy, complicating the risk analyses.

Symptoms Of Narcolepsy

• Excessive daytime sleepiness (100% of affected individuals)
• Cataplexy – a sudden loss of voluntary mNOuscle tone (70% of affected individuals)
• Sleep paralysis and/or vivid hallucinations (10 to 20% of affected individuals)
• Microsleep (sleep episodes that only last a few seconds)
• Nighttime wakefulness
• Atonia (loss of muscle strength)
• Involuntary leg muscle contractions
• Rapid entry into REM sleep

 How It Works

Step 1: Order test kit online
Step 2: Collect DNA sample using a painless mouth swab, and mail to the lab in the provided return envelope
Step 3: Receive your results online

NOTE: Please provide your email address for reporting results.