Bayview Laboratory has partnered with CariGenetics, a Bermuda-based genetics company, to bring genetic testing to the island. It’s a big step for local healthcare, giving Barbadians the opportunity to learn about their health in ways that were only possible overseas until now.

Through this initiative, Bayview Labs is offering a full range of testing, from uncovering family roots and ancestry to learning about nutrition, fitness and even what skincare routines might suit you best – all based on a simple DNA cheek swab. Want to know which medications work better for your body or find out if you’re at risk for developing health conditions like breast cancer or prostate cancer, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, Barbadians will now have access to the region’s first gut microbiome analysis kit. Self-collection kits will soon be available at the lab and select pharmacies throughout the island.

Lab Director, Dr Lyndon Waterman, is excited about what these new offerings mean for the community. “Your DNA provides valuable insights into the foods you should eat, how you should work out, and even which skincare routine works best for you. It can also identify predispositions to certain diseases and determine which medications are most effective for your body.”

Bayview Lab recently expanded its testing menu to include cholesterol, HbA1C, liver and kidney function tests, making genetic testing a natural next step in its commitment to advancing community health.

This partnership is also about something bigger — making sure Caribbean genetic data is part of the global conversation. According to Founder & CEO of CariGenetics, Dr Carika Weldon, “The biggest problem we aim to address is the lack of diverse genomic data, particularly from the Caribbean region. Today, most medical research and drug development are based on European DNA, despite Europeans comprising only about 15% of the world’s population. This means medicine is not effectively designed for the remaining 85%.”

Dr Weldon further explained that limited diversity in clinical trials has real-world consequences, from less effective treatments to inequitable healthcare outcomes.

Together, Bayview Laboratory and CariGenetics are not only giving Barbadians access to cutting-edge tests but also building a secure and anonymous research genomic database. This will help fill critical gaps in global research while shaping a future where the Caribbean’s genetic identity is fully represented. This partnership marks a milestone for Barbados and the wider Caribbean, placing the region at the forefront of personalised, data-driven healthcare.