Methodology
How we research and grade preventive-scan providers
ScanGlean exists because most "best full-body MRI" or "top longevity clinic" content online is written or paid for by the clinics it ranks. This page explains, plainly, how we do it differently — and where our own money comes from.
Same criteria, every provider
Every provider we compare in a given category — full-body MRI, biomarker panels, longevity clinics — is evaluated against the same fixed checklist: price, what is actually included, scan or panel duration, locations, membership vs. one-off pricing, whether pricing is published openly, and whether the provider has published or presented any methodology or outcomes data. We fill in every column for every provider, including the columns that make a provider look worse.
Evidence grades apply to claims, not brands
We do not assign one overall grade to a company. We grade specific, narrow claims — "this scan detects cancer earlier," "this test predicts your biological age" — against the actual published research or clinical guidelines behind that specific claim. A provider can hold a Grade B on one claim and a Grade C on another in the same article.
Grade A, B, and C mean specific things
Grade A: the claim is supported by peer-reviewed research or a recognized clinical guideline (USPSTF, ACC/AHA, ACR, etc.) specific to that use case. Grade B: there is real, relevant data — a published study, a presented trial, a regulatory clearance — but it is preliminary, industry-sponsored, not yet peer-reviewed, or does not yet show an outcomes benefit. Grade C: the claim is marketing language with no published support we could independently verify, regardless of how the provider presents it.
We say when we cannot verify something
Prices, scan counts, funding figures, and study results in this market change monthly and are not always published transparently. When we cannot independently confirm a specific number a provider or a press report has stated, we say so directly in the text rather than repeating it as fact.
Primary sources over press releases
Wherever possible, we link to the peer-reviewed study, the regulatory filing, or the provider's own pricing page — not a secondhand summary of it. Every comparison article ends with a full source list so you can check our work.
How we make money
ScanGlean does not sell scans, panels, or memberships. Some links to providers in our comparisons are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate relationships are labeled where they exist and never influence a rating, an evidence grade, or which providers we choose to cover. If a provider will not disclose pricing or methodology, that is reflected in the comparison, not hidden from it.
Who Writes ScanGlean
ScanGlean is produced by an independent editorial team — not by any full-body MRI provider, biomarker testing company, or longevity clinic, and not funded by one to write favorably about it. Every article starts from primary sources: peer-reviewed journals, clinical trial registries (like ClinicalTrials.gov), regulatory filings (FDA, USPSTF, ACR, AUA), and providers' own published pricing and methodology pages — each cited individually at the end of the article so you can check the work yourself rather than take our word for it.
Content on ScanGlean is not medical advice — see the disclaimer on every article. Always talk to a clinician who knows your history before making a screening, testing, or treatment decision.
Corrections
Pricing, scan counts, funding figures, and study results in this industry change often. If you find something in a ScanGlean article that is out of date or incorrect, email us at hello@scanglean.com with a link to your source — we update articles when the underlying facts change, and we note the update date on the article itself.