Mobile carrier SK Telecom Co. announced on Monday that it collaborated with gene testing company Macrogen Inc. to introduce a mobile app-based DNA testing service named “Care8 DNA.” Together with Newlake Alliance, Invites Healthcare Co. joined in the cooperation expanding SKT’s participation in the digital health care sector.
Both Invites Healthcare Co. and Newlake Alliance, a private equity firm, specialize in digital healthcare technology.
The Care8 DNA app service would operate upon subscription through a mobile application where users could sign up. The app involves 29 testing services such as hair loss and nicotine reliance and the body’s recovery speed after exercise. The service costs 8,250 won (about $7) per month and would offer health-related data based on gene examination.
A one-year subscription would only total to 99,000 won (about $85), making it affordable than other gene analysis services in the market.
A New Kind of Convenience
Users would receive their test kits at home and then send back the kits with their saliva for analysis. The test results would come out after two weeks on the care8 DNA app.
Upon receiving the results, users can access one-on-one sessions with an actual nutritionist for diet monitoring. Clinical exercise physiologists could advise which type of exercise the user should employ after fitness level considerations. Users could also avail of personalized services from health coaches.
Care8 DNA links the consumer immediately to a gene testing company instead of going through a medical institute first.
BIS Research estimates the global direct-to-consumer (DTC) gene test market would increase to 7.6 trillion won in 2028 from 980 billion won last 2019.
The company said users over 19 years old could purchase the Care8 DNA app in the Tworld website, mobile, or brick-and-mortar stores. SK Telecom said it intends to introduce more genetic tests, which would benefit many people in the future.
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