Frequently Asked Questions

When your urine sample arrives, the first step in our laboratory is to prepare it for testing. The prepared sample is then analyzed using CE-MS (capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry). The resulting measurement data is further processed so that it can be compared with the respective disease-specific protein pattern using an algorithm. Finally, the results of the individual components are compiled into a complete report, which is then sent to your physician.

The information carriers in blood are broken down by enzymes shortly after collection. The amount of information contained in the blood therefore depends heavily on how quickly it was processed. This process is difficult to control. Urine, on the other hand, is a very stable information carrier. By the time the urine leaves the bladder, the enzymes' breakdown processes are already complete. Therefore, your urine sample can be transported unrefrigerated in a urine tube with a stabilizer.

Analyzing your sample with xken provides a holistic view of your health status at the molecular level. This allows diseases to be detected as early as possible and treated individually with targeted therapy. At this stage, the disease can still be stopped before the first symptoms become apparent and manifest in the form of organ damage. The diagnostic analysis is based on the measured proteins. For conventional imaging techniques, a significant abnormality must already be present at the cellular level to be diagnosable.

All individual xken health components have a CE declaration of conformity and comply with the Medical Devices Act (MPG) and the EU Directive 98/79/EC on in-vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVD).

The technology is based on the coupling of two established measurement techniques: capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The proteins are first separated in an electric field (25,000 volts) and then analyzed with a mass spectrometer. The data obtained is evaluated using specially developed software and stored in our database. In the next step, disease-specific proteins (biomarkers) are identified from the data using complex statistical methods. The detected biomarkers are aggregated using artificial intelligence, thus achieving a level of accuracy previously unattainable with individual biomarkers.

Biological age describes your physical condition. Scientists have proven that external influences, such as our living environment or habits, cause us to age faster or slower. Therefore, biological age is not the same as chronological age, which is determined by our date of birth.

The accuracy of the xken health components is between 85-95%.

Proteome analysis is a branch of biochemistry that analyzes all proteins in the body (proteome). Proteins are the functional molecules of a cell and form the basis of life. The proteome is dynamic and changes over time. This is different for genes, which always remain constant. The proteome therefore always represents the current state of the body ("snapshot"). Application-oriented clinical proteome analysis enables the implementation of findings from basic research into clinical trials, taking clinical needs into account. The mosaiques group has developed recommendations for clinical proteome analysis that have since become standard in industry and research. Today, the technology can be successfully used for both clinical diagnostics and the identification of therapeutic targets.

Clinical proteome analysis allows the analysis of all proteins in the human body. Knowledge of proteins (as biomarkers) opens up a new level of understanding of disease. This knowledge forms the basis for prevention, diagnostics, and therapy tailored to the individual needs of the patient, as every protein is a potential target for modern therapy. Clinical proteome analysis achieves a level of resolution unmatched by other clinical analysis methods. All measurements are performed at the molecular level of proteins (proteome). The high information density of these measurements provides a precise picture of the overall condition of the body. Every disease begins with changes in proteins, the functional carriers of cells. In contrast to genes, which indicate a potential risk, changes in the proteome reflect the specific state of health or disease. These new possibilities of biomarker analysis open up previously unknown personalized and individualized treatment approaches for patients.

Diseases arise at the molecular (protein) level of the body. It is at this level that the biochemical processes that cause disease, as well as its treatment, take place. Diseases are usually not caused by alterations in a single protein, but rather by multiple proteins. The most comprehensive quantitative and qualitative assessment of proteins is necessary to precisely describe and treat diseases. The current state of the body is particularly important. This state is described by its proteins. This protein level remains inaccessible to other "omics" technologies and can only be deciphered through proteomic analysis.

Negative influences can lead to inflammatory processes in your body, especially if they occur over a long period of time. This chronic inflammation is now considered one of the main causes of cancer. OncoRisk can detect these inflammatory processes, which, if left untreated, can subsequently lead to cancer.

Regardless of your test results, xken health should be repeated at regular intervals. This allows you to check whether you remain healthy or whether the treatments suggested by your doctor are working.