Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes. Measuring their length in sampled blood cells adds a view of cellular biology to your health assessment. The most useful report explains the whole distribution, including shorter telomeres, rather than reducing the result to a single “age”.
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At a glance
Scope and price are confirmed with the team before booking. Where a published price exists for your clinic, it is shown on the programme or clinic page.
The exact test or procedure, preparation, clinician and price are agreed for your location before booking.
In detail
People with the same calendar age can have different telomere profiles. In HLC care, the measurement can support a discussion about cellular ageing alongside medical history, lifestyle and conventional risk markers. It does not replace assessment of the heart, metabolism, bones or physical function.
A sample contains many telomeres of different lengths. A histogram groups them into length intervals. The mean describes the average; the median is the point with half of measured lengths on either side. Neither describes the full pattern on its own.
In this example report structure, the short-tail measure is the 20th-percentile length: 20% of measured telomeres are shorter than that value. It is a length, usually expressed in kilobases, not the percentage of short telomeres. The report may also compare that length with people of similar age; this is a separate percentile comparison.
Bring any previous telomere report, including the method and collection date. The clinician explains what the selected assay measures and how its reference population is used. A calculated telomeric-age estimate is an interpretation of the measurement, not a direct measure of the age of every tissue.
The result is not a countdown to lifespan. A shorter result does not establish a specific disease, and a longer result does not guarantee good health. An intervention that changes a telomere measurement has not thereby been shown to prevent disease or extend life.
If repeat testing is useful for an agreed question, compare the same method, sample type and report definitions. Cell composition, sample handling and analytical variation can affect comparison. Changes should be interpreted with the rest of your clinical picture.
Illustrative example
An illustrative example created to explain the report or care plan. Values and findings are fictional, are not personal results and are not treatment targets. Your report depends on the agreed service.
Illustrative example — fictional values, not a personal result, not a clinical target and not a normal range.
| Length interval (kb) | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| 2–3 | 1 |
| 3–4 | 3 |
| 4–5 | 8 |
| 5–6 | 14 |
| 6–7 | 20 |
| 7–8 | 24 |
| 8–9 | 16 |
| 9–10 | 8 |
| 10–11 | 4 |
| 11–12 | 2 |
| Measure | Illustrative value | What it would indicate |
|---|---|---|
| Median length | 7.2 kb | Half of measured lengths fall below this point and half above it. |
| 20th-percentile length | 5.6 kb | 20% of measured telomeres are shorter than this length; the value is not a percentage. |
| Age-reference comparison | 40th percentile | A separate comparison with the assay’s reference population; not the same as the within-sample 20th percentile. |
Questions people ask
Related services
Analysis of selected epigenetic markers. Estimates are interpreted as model outputs rather than a precise measure of remaining lifespan.
A locally specified laboratory assessment of markers related to mitochondrial function.
Discuss your findings, priorities and next steps with a physician. Scope and appointment length are agreed for the selected service.
Listed at Prague. The exact scope, preparation, clinician and price are confirmed with the team before booking. Your choice of service and clinic is carried through to the next step.
