Terms of Service

Welcome to Helixline, an India-based genetic testing company. These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Helixline Data Science Private Limited ("Company," "We," "Us," or "Our") and govern your access to and use of:

• The Helixline website (helixline.in) and all associated web pages
• Helixline mobile applications (iOS and Android)
• Helixline DNA testing kits (including Health+ Kit, Ancestry Essential Kit, and future variants)
• All genetic analysis services, ancestry reports, and health insights
• Customer accounts, results portals, and support services

By purchasing a kit, creating an account, or submitting a biological sample, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms in their entirety. If you do not agree to any part of these Terms, you must not use our Services.

• "Company" or "Helixline": Helixline Data Science Private Limited, a company registered under the Shops and Establishment Act and Companies Act of India, operating from India.
• "User," "You," or "Participant": Any individual who purchases a Helixline product, creates an account, submits a biological sample, or accesses our Services.
• "Genetic Data": All DNA information, genetic variants, haplogroups, ancestry breakdowns, health trait assessments, and any derived insights generated from the analysis of your biological sample.
• "Biological Sample": Saliva or other biological material you provide in a Helixline kit for DNA extraction and analysis.
• "Services": The complete range of genetic testing, analysis, reporting, account management, and customer support provided by Helixline.
• "Results": Reports, ancestry breakdowns, health trait assessments, community matches, and any other information derived from analysis of your Genetic Data.
• "Kit": The physical DNA testing kit containing collection materials and instructions provided by Helixline.

Age Requirements

You must be at least 18 years of age to purchase Helixline products or use our Services independently. Users under 18 may only participate with verifiable consent from their parent or legal guardian.

Parental/Guardian Consent

If you are submitting a sample on behalf of a minor or an individual without legal capacity, you represent and warrant that:

• You are the legally appointed parent, guardian, or authorized representative
• You have the authority to provide binding consent to these Terms on their behalf
• You will ensure compliance with all terms and conditions

Account Responsibility

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and are liable for all activities conducted under your account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and truthful information during registration
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breaches
• Use your account exclusively for lawful purposes

Nature of Services

Helixline provides direct-to-consumer genetic testing with a focus on South Asian ancestry analysis, health trait assessments, and community matching. Our Services include:

• Ancestry Analysis: Geographic ancestry breakdown at state/regional level, haplogroup classification, community matching with other users
• Health Traits: Genetic predispositions related to nutritional sensitivities, wellness markers, and common health conditions (non-diagnostic)
• Community Insights: Matching with other Helixline users and identification of potential genetic relatives
• Detailed Reports: Interactive ancestry reports, haplogroup trees, and trait assessments

Informational Purpose Only

Sample Handling & Processing

By submitting your biological sample:

• You authorize Helixline and our laboratory partners to extract DNA and perform analysis
• We will process your sample in ISO-certified and accredited laboratories operating in India or equivalent internationally accredited facilities, where applicable
• We may reject samples that are insufficient, contaminated, improperly labeled, or unsafe
• You will be offered a replacement kit or full refund (minus processing costs) for rejected samples
• Biological samples will be destroyed after DNA extraction unless you consent to longer-term storage

Required Processing for Service Delivery

By purchasing a Helixline kit and submitting a biological sample, you consent to the processing of your Genetic Data strictly for the purposes of:

• DNA extraction and analysis
• Generation of ancestry and health trait reports
• Account access and result delivery
• Quality control and internal validation

This processing is essential to provide the Services and cannot be separated from your use of the product.

Optional Research & Commercial Use (Opt-In)

With your explicit opt-in consent, Helixline may use de-identified and aggregated genetic data for:

• Internal research and algorithm improvement
• Development of new features and reports
• Academic research collaborations
• Commercial research partnerships

You may manage or withdraw this consent at any time through your account settings.

Data Anonymization Standards

Data shared for research or commercial purposes will be anonymized according to the following standards:

• All directly identifying information (name, email, phone, address) will be removed and stored separately
• Genetic data will be coded with non-reversible, randomized identifiers
• Data will be aggregated with genetic information from 1,000+ other individuals before analysis or sharing
• Re-identification using standard research protocols is technically infeasible
• You acknowledge that genetic data carries inherent privacy risks, and advanced re-identification techniques may theoretically exist

Commercial Arrangements

With explicit user consent, Helixline may share de-identified and aggregated datasets with approved research or commercial partners for scientific and product development purposes. Individual users cannot be identified from shared datasets.

You understand and acknowledge that:

• You will not receive monetary compensation for data sharing or commercial use of your Genetic Data
• Your consideration for data sharing consists of access to your ancestry reports, health trait assessments, and community matching features

Duration of Consent

Consent for required service processing remains active for the duration of your use of the Services. Consent for optional research use may be withdrawn at any time. Once your data has been de-identified and incorporated into aggregated datasets:

• Data recall from aggregated datasets is technically infeasible, as data can no longer be linked to an individual
• You may request deletion of your identifiable Genetic Data at any time

Withdrawal of Consent

You may withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time through your account settings or by submitting a written request to support@helixline.in with the subject line "Withdraw Genetic Data Consent." Please note:

• Withdrawal applies to future processing from the date of request
• Withdrawal does not affect data already de-identified and incorporated into aggregated research datasets, which can no longer be linked to an individual
• Withdrawing consent for required service processing may suspend access to your Results, reports, and community matching features

This section must be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy.

By using our Services, you represent and warrant that:

• Sample Ownership: The biological sample you provide is from your own body, or you have legal authority to provide it (e.g., parent/guardian for a minor)
• Truthful Information: All information provided during registration and sample submission is accurate, complete, and truthful
• No Impersonation: You are not submitting samples on behalf of another individual without their explicit consent
• No Insurance/Employment Use: You are not obtaining genetic information for use by insurance companies, employers, or third parties for discrimination purposes
• No Forensic Use: You will not use our Services for forensic analysis, law enforcement purposes, or paternity testing without explicit prior written consent
• No Illegal Activity: You will not use our Services for any unlawful, fraudulent, or harmful purposes
• Compliance with Law: You acknowledge that genetic data is regulated under Indian privacy laws and international frameworks, and you will comply with all applicable regulations

Important Health Notices

• Non-Diagnostic: Our reports do not diagnose, confirm, or rule out any disease or medical condition
• Genetic Predisposition ≠ Disease Risk: Genetic predisposition (presence of risk variants) does not guarantee you will develop a condition. Many factors (environment, lifestyle, other genes) influence disease development
• Not a Medical Provider: Helixline is not a licensed medical provider and cannot prescribe treatments or provide medical recommendations
• Evolving Science: Our analysis reflects current scientific knowledge, which evolves as research advances. Past reports may become outdated
• Consult Healthcare Professionals: Before making any health decisions based on our reports, you must consult with a qualified healthcare provider, genetic counselor, or physician

When to Seek Professional Guidance

You should contact a healthcare professional if you:

• Have concerns about genetic predispositions or health risks identified in your report
• Are considering lifestyle changes or medical treatments based on your genetic results
• Have a family history of genetic diseases
• Are planning pregnancy and want genetic counseling
• Experience symptoms you believe may be related to genetic factors

To the maximum extent permitted under Indian law and applicable international regulations, Helixline and its officers, directors, employees, and contractors shall not be liable for:

• Indirect Damages: Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages (including loss of profits, data, revenue, or business opportunity)
• Report Inaccuracies: Errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or misinterpretations in genetic analysis or reports, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages
• Data Breaches: Unauthorized access, loss, corruption, or theft of Genetic Data despite our implementation of reasonable security measures
• Service Interruption: Unavailability or interruption of our website, mobile application, or Services
• Third-Party Content: Content from third-party partners, linked websites, or social media platforms
• User-Initiated Actions: Damages arising from your reliance on our reports without professional medical consultation

Helixline Intellectual Property

All content on the Helixline website and in our mobile applications—including algorithms, reference databases, ancestry classifications, haplogroup definitions, trait associations, reports, images, text, and code—are the exclusive intellectual property of Helixline or our licensed partners. You may not:

• Reproduce, modify, or distribute any content without written permission
• Reverse-engineer our algorithms or analysis methods
• Scrape, crawl, or automate access to our Services
• Use our content for competing genetic testing services

Your Genetic Data Ownership

While you retain ownership of your biological sample and raw genetic data, by purchasing our Services:

• You grant Helixline a non-exclusive, revocable license to use your Genetic Data subject to the consent terms outlined in Section 5
• Helixline retains ownership of derived insights, algorithms, and aggregated analysis based on your data
• You may request your raw genetic data in standard formats (VCF, CSV) for personal use, subject to technical feasibility

Refund Eligibility

• Unused Kits: Full refund if the kit is unused and unopened within 30 days of purchase
• Rejected Samples: Full refund (minus processing costs) if your sample is rejected during quality control
• Processing Errors: Full refund if our analysis fails due to laboratory error (not user error)

No Refund After Processing

Once your sample has been processed and results generated:

• Refunds are not available (sample has been consumed and data generated)
• You may request account deletion, but data retention obligations may apply

Cancellation of Account

You may request account deletion by contacting support@helixline.in. Upon deletion:

• Your account will be deactivated and access to results suspended
• Personal identifiers will be removed, but anonymized Genetic Data will persist for research purposes
• Legal/regulatory holds may prevent complete deletion

You agree not to use Helixline's Services for:

• Submitting false, fraudulent, or misleading information
• Forging samples or impersonating other individuals
• Harassment, abuse, or discrimination based on genetic results
• Forensic analysis or law enforcement purposes without authorization
• Insurance underwriting or employment discrimination
• Violating any applicable laws or regulations
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems or data
• Transmitting malware, viruses, or harmful code

Helixline may suspend or terminate your account and access to our Services immediately and without notice if:

• You violate any provision of these Terms
• You provide false, fraudulent, or misleading information
• You engage in harassment, abuse, or illegal activity
• We detect unauthorized or suspicious account access
• You breach data protection or consent obligations
• Your actions threaten the integrity or security of our Services

Upon termination, access to your account and results will be suspended. Data retention obligations will continue as outlined in Section 5 and our Privacy Policy.

Helixline may modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of our Services after modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

For material changes to genetic data usage or consent provisions, we will provide email notification and grant you 30 days to accept or reject the new Terms. Rejection constitutes grounds for account termination.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, specifically:

• The Information Technology Act, 2000
• The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
• The Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Any other applicable laws of India

All disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Dispute Resolution Procedure

Before pursuing litigation, both parties agree to attempt resolution through:

1. Good Faith Negotiation (15 days): Direct written correspondence to resolve the dispute informally
2. Mediation (30 days): Third-party mediation through a mutually agreed-upon mediator
3. Arbitration: If negotiation and mediation fail, binding arbitration under the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

Arbitration Details

• Arbitration will be conducted in English language
• Seat of arbitration: India (specific state to be mutually agreed)
• Single arbitrator to be appointed by mutual consent or per institutional rules
• Arbitration costs will be shared equally unless otherwise ruled
• Award is final and binding and enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction

Class Action Waiver

You agree that any dispute must be resolved on an individual basis and not as part of a class action, collective action, consolidated proceeding, or representative lawsuit. You waive your right to participate in any class-based legal proceedings against Helixline.

For questions about these Terms of Service, genetic data handling, privacy rights, or to exercise your legal rights under Indian law, please contact: