These days we can find out virtually anything we want with the swipe of a finger. But what do we know about our health?
Yes, we can see our local doctor, but what about our genetic makeup?
DNA tests for health show us a range of factors that are influenced by our genetic makeup. These include:
- Genetic health risk
- Carrier screening
- Wellness and health traits
- Nutrition and dietary intolerances
- Fitness
- Cellular aging
While these tests can be fun to take and reveal fascinating facts about ourselves, they can play a vital role in our lives.
Especially finding out if you are the carrier of a genetic condition you could pass on to children one day. The fascinating world of health DNA tests is available, again with the swipe of your finger as you can purchase them online.
But with so many on the market, finding the best DNA test for health can feel like a minefield, can’t it?
That’s where we come in to save you the headache! Keep reading to find the best DNA test for health, a buyer’s guide to help you navigate the DNA world, and an FAQ section to help answer all of your burning questions!
Remember that if you take the test, genetics is only part of the broader picture at play and that anything of concern should be followed up with a healthcare professional as a matter of urgency.
In a hurry? Check out our top pick to grab your test and go!
OUR TOP PICK
23 and Me Health + Ancestry Service
EDITORS CHOICE
Ancestry Health: Genetic Ethnicity + Traits + Health
BEST VALUE
Vitagene DNA Test Kit
OUR TOP PICK
23 and Me Health + Ancestry Service
23 and Me’s DNA testing kit provides you with an insight into your genetics and health history.
This test will provide you with the answers for those looking to see how genetics play a role in your health and the risk of carrying inherited conditions.
You will also see what your DNA says about your well-being and how it can influence certain lifestyle choices.
The test will also help you to map a family tree, drawing on DNA from over 2000 regions across the world. Watch the world feel smaller as connections pour in!
23 and Me offer exceptional privacy for your data, where you can control what you share. The data is encrypted as well for added safety and security.
What is great about 23 and Me is that you can decide what you want to learn and what you want to share.
For example, on the app, your genetic risk of certain cancers will only be shown if you click on it so that you won’t have any nasty shocks.
Be prepared, though, before you click on these, and remember to consult a healthcare professional if needed.
The app allows you to see how your genetic makeup can impact factors such as weight, muscle composition, and alcohol flush reactions.
Those after a test that will show if you are a carrier for genetic illnesses and a handy app that will let you digest this information need to look no further than 23 and Me!
Pros
- Explore how your DNA relates to your lifestyle
- Shows any health predispositions, i.e., to type two diabetes
- Allows you to see if you are a carrier for a range of genetic illnesses
- Can control how much of your data is shared for security
- Results can tell you if you are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s (late on-set).
Cons
- Some customers found the family history broad and generic in its response.
More time to browse? Check out the other great testing kits you can get below!
EDITORS CHOICE
Ancestry Health: Genetic Ethnicity + Traits + Health
Ancestry Health offers a decently priced DNA testing kit that looks at your genetic ethnicity, traits, and health!
Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), the test gives you a deeper understanding of your risk for commonly inherited health conditions.
NGS looks for thousands of DNA differences that are linked to the same disease to provide increased accuracy to your results compared to previous tests.
The test will provide you with an insight into your family’s health, with the results showing if you are at a lower or higher risk for inherited conditions such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and heart conditions such as cardiomyopathy.
The health section tests for a range of diseases such as:
- Some cancer strains
- Carrier statuses
- High cholesterol and iron levels
- Heart conditions
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Lactose intolerance
- Caffeine consumption
The range tested allows you not only to reflect on your health but lifestyle choices now. Learning about intolerances and differences can allow you to adjust your diet and lifestyle to live healthier.
You will also get a personal health report, which can be downloaded immediately, allowing you to discuss any points of concern with your healthcare provider with ease.
There is also a family health history tool to create a complete picture of what may run in your family. Thanks to the handy app, this can be downloaded and shared with other family members or healthcare professionals to assess your results.
With Ancestry Health, you also get all the features offered by Ancestry DNA so you can learn more about your ethnic origins. Using DNA from over 1000 regions, you can understand, on a deeper level, your roots and how you came to be; how exciting!
You will also see over 25 traits that are influenced by your genetics. Ancestry Health is not available in NY, NJ, RI, or Guam and includes a small purchase fee that goes to the clinical oversight services provider.
Some customers found the results basic in responses with yes or no answers instead of a more detailed explanation than competitors’ responses.
Pros
- A deeper understanding of your risk of commonly inherited health conditions.
- It will show your risk for breast cancer, colon cancer, and heart issues.
- Can download a version to take straight to your healthcare provider
- Offers ethnic results from over 1000 regions
- Includes over 25 personal traits influenced by your genes
Cons
- Not available in NY, NJ, RI, or Guam
More time to browse? Check out our other great options below!
BEST VALUE
Vitagene DNA Test Kit
Vitagene brings you a DNA testing kit that will assess your health and provide you with a genetic report to make any necessary lifestyle changes.
At an affordable price, they offer quick results within six weeks following a simple two-minute saliva test. The results look closely at your diet and exercise to see if your genetics have the answer to living better.
Vitagene prides itself on being the only test in the market that tells you which foods, exercises, and vitamins are right for you. This helps you see what activities will help you burn the most calories and be great for those looking to lose weight.
The personalized fitness feature suggests weekly calorie losses and recommended exercises that have been tailored to what works best for you.
It even offers a breakdown showing you how many pounds you will lose each month based on the minutes you exercise and how many times a week, all of which can be adjusted to suit your lifestyle.
Along with this, you also get a breakdown of your genetic ancestry to see your global ancestry, which can always be fascinating and lead to some exciting discoveries!
Some customers found their results uninformative, with some responses being quite vague when it came to the ancestry analysis.
Some customers received ‘mostly European’ as a sweeping result instead of a more in-depth breakdown. Those after a test purely for health reasons probably won’t find this such an issue.
For those wanting to learn more about their health and the right foods, exercises, and vitamins for them, this is the test for you!
Pros
- Affordable
- Quick results guaranteed
- Tells you what foods, exercises, and vitamins are right for you
- Learn about your body's reaction to exercise
- Global ancestry provided as well.
Cons
- Some customers found the results uninformative.
RUNNER UP
TellmeGen DNA Test Kit
TellmeGen offers a DNA testing kit that they claim will help extend your life expectancy! At such a reasonable price too, it almost seems too good to be true.
The test offers insight into your predisposition to illnesses, genetic variant carrier status, traits, wellness, and your genetic ancestry.
What is great about this kit is that you will also get free updates forever! As new advances emerge and discover more about genetics’s makeup, your results will change to incorporate these new findings.
There is an impressive range of illnesses they test to find if you have a predisposition to ranging from alcohol dependence to schizophrenia.
Over 100 health conditions are analyzed in the report to offer you a complete result and understanding of your unique makeup.
An exciting feature is your tolerance levels to alcohol; perhaps you owe your two drinks and passing out party tricks to part of your DNA?
TellmeGen also tests for a massive amount of genetic variants that you could be a carrier for, such as porphyria and hemochromatosis.
Over 75 inherited disorders are tested for in this kit to provide you with a comprehensive answer. This is an excellent tool for anyone concerned about passing on a condition to their children.
Your traits are also tested in this kit. DNA can influence memory, intelligence, pain sensitivity, and longevity, along with other character traits.
These will be brought to light in the test so you can learn just how much of your make up was already pre-determined. Is that fascinating or freaky? We aren’t too sure ourselves!
The test also provides an ethnicity DNA test to see where your ancestors came from. This is always an exciting part of any DNA test to learn more about your family and how it came to be.
Customers praised the comprehension of this test, providing more detailed information than its competitors.
However, some customers did struggle to receive their results in their native language, with some results appearing only in Spanish.
It is worth triple checking the language setting before sending off for your results!
Those after a highly comprehensive test should look no further than this one from TellmeGen!
Pros
- Can tell you your predisposition to obesity, baldness, muscle gain, and tolerance to alcohol
- Helps to extend your life expectancy
- Multi-cultural and accessible to all
- Great customer support
- Detailed information in your results
Cons
- Some customers struggled to get the results in their native language.
RUNNER UP
EverlyWell Food Sensitivity -96 Foods
Slightly different from the others on this list, EverlyWell offers a food sensitivity test allowing you to see if you have any sensitivities to certain foods.
Using a small blood sample, the test measures IgG antibodies to tell how your immune system reacts to 96 different foods. This kit is a great way to help eliminate foods from your diet to pinpoint any sensitivities.
Food sensitivities can cause migraines, joint pain, skin issues, and gastrointestinal distress, among other conditions. Being able to diagnose and eliminate these foods from your diet can help to promote a healthier lifestyle.
The results are easy to understand and available to download to discuss your results with the relevant healthcare professional. EverlyWell also provides additional resources and tips to help make this process smoother for you.
Using only CLIA-certified labs, they have to meet and maintain high standards meaning your tests are in very safe hands!
The test is also reviewed and approved by an independent board-certified physician within your state before you get your added accuracy results.
It’s worth noting that sensitivities are different from intolerances or allergies and that this test is not an allergy test.
Customers found the test helpful and insightful into their diet and its relation to health concerns. The results also came back quickly for most customers, meaning you won’t have to wait long to begin your healthier journey!
For anyone who suffers from stomach pain or fatigue, this is a good test to take to see if there is a diet change you could make to improve your health!
Pros
- Tests against 96 foods for sensitivities
- Allows you to eliminate foods to improve your health
- Decently priced
- Reviewed by a physician before results are published
- Quick results
Cons
- Does not test for allergies or intolerances
Best DNA Test for Health Buying Guide
Not quite sure what to look for?
Let our buyer’s guide take you through the process!
Accuracy
When purchasing a health DNA testing kit, you want to ensure that the results you get are accurate; otherwise, there could be health implications.
These tests can be highly accurate at identifying any illnesses your genes may be carrying, with tests that check all aspects of your genetic code being amongst the most accurate.
Remember that there is no guarantee of 100% with every single illness you are being tested against as genes and the molecular makeup of diseases change. It is always worth consulting a healthcare professional if you have any concerns.
Look out for tests checked by board-certified physicians before the results are released to you to ensure they are professionally checked. Some companies also use CLIA certified labs, which will add another level of accuracy to the test you are undertaking.
Be mindful that some of the results you will receive relating to your lifestyle may be quite basic; for example, we all know drinking too much caffeine can be bad for you; you don’t need a test to tell you that!
The inclusion of specific vitamins to maintain a healthy lifestyle is also information you can access freely without paying for a DNA test.
If you are unsure about the results you receive, it is always worth speaking to a healthcare professional who can always request further tests to confirm the results you have obtained.
Where’s my data?
When taking a test of this nature, privacy and where your data is being held is something to consider. These days, most companies offer secure data handling services that will only share the information you agree to share.
This data should, of course, be shared with a healthcare professional if any of the results are a concern to yourself, and be sure to opt for downloadable results so that you can do this easily.
Most companies will invite you to select how much privacy you wish your data to have, but be sure to carefully read the fine print. Data about your health is shared with insurance companies, which can jeopardize your current or future health and life insurance plans and premiums.
Interpreting Your Results
There are lots of factors you need to consider when diving into the world of health DNA tests. It may be worth consulting with a genetic counselor before you take the test to discuss your expectations of the test and what the benefits of this new information could bring to you.
Consulting with a counselor beforehand is, of course, optional, with many customers not feeling the need for it. However, if you are concerned, you may be the carrier of a genetic condition, they may be able to provide you with support from the outset to prepare for any result.
It is crucial to discuss any results that concern you with a genetic counselor or healthcare provider instead of interpreting the results yourself. Your test may not recognize any variants for a particular illness, but that does not necessarily mean you aren’t at risk of that disease.
Many variants for a range of conditions are still yet to be identified; this information should be made clear on the test you opt for as well.
It is vital that if you test positive for disease risk or a carrier, you speak to a doctor, especially if you have children or are considering children in the future. Speaking to a professional can help devise a plan to minimize the risk to your children or future children.
Some tests will allow you to share your information via an app with your doctor. If this is not the case, make sure you keep the results safe until you can speak to a professional.
How much?
When purchasing a DNA test for your health, the price can vary dramatically, leaving you unsure which one is the best.
You don’t need to spend a fortune to purchase a good quality test, though.
Be sure to set a clear budget before you begin your search and try to stick to it as much as possible to avoid any nasty surprises when your statement arrives!
Frequently Asked Questions
Any last-minute queries? Let’s get those answered now!
What is a DNA health test?
A DNA health test will analyze a DNA sample to look for any changes associated with different conditions. They can detect if you are a carrier for a genetic disease such as cystic fibrosis or hemophilia.
These tests can help a doctor determine the risks of developing a condition and often allow you to adjust your lifestyle to minimize the risk.
These tests can be done by your healthcare professional if there is a need, for example, if there is a genetic condition that runs in your or your partner’s family. Your doctor can test you to see if you are a carrier and help assess the risk of passing this onto children.
You can now buy these tests online, do them at home, and have your results sent directly to you! It’s an excellent way to do the test if you are curious about your genetic makeup, although those with serious health concerns should urgently consult a healthcare professional.
How do these tests work?
These tests can often be done at home, with a swab, saliva, or blood droplets. You can go to a lab for a DNA test, but these can be costly, and given the current COVID restrictions, it may be challenging to do so unless your health depends on this.
Generally speaking, using saliva, a swab, or blood droplets, you will register online you have completed the swab, send it to a lab, you should then receive confirmation this has been received. This can take up to a few weeks, depending on the test, so don’t panic if you don’t hear back straight away!
The sample will then be tested, and your results will usually be updated online. Some companies offer a downloaded version or results directly to an app, so you can take these to a healthcare professional to discuss your next steps.
Does food affect your DNA?
There is a lot of debate about this amongst scientists and researchers in recent years. The age-old phrase, you are what you eat is ringing in your ears right now, I bet! And to a degree, this is true. Your diet, whether it is poor or healthy, can change the nature of your DNA!
Interestingly, it can also change the DNA of the next generation, so what your parents and grandparents ate has influenced your DNA! Recent studies by two separate studies have found this to be true.
From these studies, we can see a link between obesity in parents and grandparents being passed to their children and other conditions such as diabetes.
Using a health DNA test, you will see these patterns and hopefully make the necessary lifestyle adjustments to ensure a healthier future for your children and their children.