If you select a support package our team will review your results report and compare this against the personal information you have provided at checkout regarding your current health, diet and supplement / medicine intake. All patients will receive a lab report.

All lab reports include:

• personalised, colour coded genotype results
• gene function and SNP impact descriptions
• clinically relevant SNPs
• nutrient and other epigenetic impacts
• links to research evidence

In addition to your lab report we provide the following options which are INCLUDED in your original price:

A) Follow up 30 minute video call to discuss your results and answer any questions you have. Once the labs have completed your DNA results you will be sent a link to book a time and day online. Advice will be given on supplements and lifestyle support. After your call you are sent a short email with supplements your practitioner advises with links to purchase.

OR

B) Follow up written report explaining your variants and highlighting dietary and lifestyle advice and links to supplement suggestions included. We do not provide an example of this report as it is personalised to each patient but it usually runs to 3 pages of detailed actionable advice.

OR

C) Both zoom call and written summary with personalised next steps (Zoom call is first and written report follows).

Every patient will get a colour coded lab report—your choice is how to receive your personalised interpretation of this report. You have a choice of a video call or a written summary or both.

The video call is ideal if you want your results faster or if you are new to DNA testing. It also allows you to ask your practitioner questions about your variants. Please check at the start of your call if your practitioner is happy for you to record your Zoom session. Usually if you confirm this will not be used on social media / uploaded to public forums etc, then this is allowed for your private use (please note zoom links last 2 weeks so please make sure you download and save locally). You will get a short email after your call with supplement links your practitioner recommends.

The written summary is better for those who want a full written explanation of their variants and links to supplement suggestions. Some patients feel more comfortable with a written interpretation but essentially both options will give you the same information just in different formats.

The test is a simple, non-invasive oral sample (cheek swab). The only requirement is to abstain from eating/drinking for at least 1 hour before testing. The sample is placed in a tube with a stabilising capsule and returned with a signed consent form. Please use our details under ‘practitioner’ on the lab form.

There are no special storage or transport requirements and you can return any day. Each test kit is supplied with a return envelope which is prepaid for returns from within the UK and can be simply dropped into a post box. It is rare but some samples do fail laboratory standards if you do not extract enough DNA onto the mouth swab. You can take this test at any time of day, there is no need to stop taking medications or supplements with this test.

The most common reason for sample fails is patients forgetting to include the stabilising capsule included in your kit or not returning the consent form. Please DO NOT open the contents of the stabilising capsule, include it whole. Please ensure you do not eat, drink or smoke for 1 hour prior to taking test. In the event your test fails laboratory standards you will receive 1 free replacement kit. UK orders are re-posted at no additional charge however international orders will need to pay additional delivery charges for failed tests—see below.

Every human has a slightly different genetic makeup. We inherit our gene variants from both parents so although you may have similar genes to your child you will not have identical gene mutations. Our genes are the same from the moment we are born so you only ever need to do this test once in your lifetime and you will have the data on your gene variants for life.

The returns package provided has a freepost address on it so if you live in the UK you can simply pop your sample into any postbox for free returns. We do recognise that some patients prefer to send samples recorded / special delivery for peace of mind. If you choose this option, you will need to use a different address to return your sample: Lifecode Gx, c/o WeWork, Unit 1 Provost & East Building, 145 City Road, London, EC1V 1AZ

Orders OUTSIDE UK - Yes we can now ship this test overseas to selected countries. Please select your country at checkout. If you want to order multiple DNA tests for friends or family we can package these together so you only pay one shipping cost. We use UPS for European orders and DHL for other countries, deliveries usually arrive with patients in 3–6 days.

The test kits (swab and stabilising capsule) are declared as “no commercial value” and usually (90% of the time) do not require customs import fees. However, some destination country customs agents may decide to apply charges, and this is beyond our control and beyond the control of the courier. Usually this fee is around 17 Euro but can vary. In the unlikely event this happens, your courier will notify you if an import fee is due before delivering to you.

We provide approved packaging for the return of the sample, but you are responsible for arranging and paying for return postage. The return package is low weight and does not require any special control. Please return your sample via tracked / courier service to the labs directly: Lifecode Gx, c/o WeWork, Unit 1 Provost & East Building, 145 City Road, London, EC1V 1AZ, United Kingdom.

For international orders we include 2 swabs per patient so please ensure each patient does 2 swabs. This makes a ‘test failure’ at the laboratory much more unlikely, however in the very rare case that both swabs fail please ensure you note our returns / refund policy.

All reports are provided in English. Unfortunately we are unable to ship to Spain or Canada at this time for export reasons. If you live in a country we do not ship to currently then please contact us and we will try to accommodate your request.

As blood tests in the UK can be obtained for free under the NHS we don’t include this as a package price. General blood tests are not necessary but if you are concerned about your current health or have not had a general blood test in some time you may prefer to speak to your GP or we can offer a private full blood test HERE - this is for UK residents only and involves having a nurse come to your home to take your sample. Patients must be over 18 years old for this test. Results are provided separately to your DNA reports.

We offer a huge range of testing so when a member of our genetics team is assigned to review your results they may feel you would benefit from other specific testing such as genetic age testing, hormones ( cortisol, testosterone / estrogen levels etc), microbiome gut analysis, food intolerance, amino acids & homocysteine or mould / toxin testing. If any additional testing is required, this will be advised in your zoom call / written plan. *Note if you are adding multiple tests to your basket you only need to complete the patient form once.

As long as cheek swabs are stored in the tube provided in the buccal swab kit, samples remain viable for up to 6 months.

Lifecode Gx are the labs we use in the UK to process your cheek cells as the sample type. They are an ISO certified UK laboratory and only do DNA testing, making them specialists in this area. This genotyping methodology has an accuracy rate of at least 99.9%.

The benefits being that cheek swab DNA collection is convenient and painless to collect, and samples are easily transportable and stable. The quality of DNA collected is as good as, and the results as accurate as, from blood or saliva. Your DNA is fixed at birth so this test is suitable at any age and you only ever need to do this test once in your lifetime. Cheek cell DNA samples are 99.9% accurate—blood has a very similar accuracy rate, so whether you choose to have a blood DNA test or use our cheek cell DNA test the results will be the same.

No. As we're testing the genetic code, which is fixed, the test is not impacted by illness, infections, medication, the food you eat, or supplements you take. To avoid contamination of the sample, please abstain from eating / drinking for at least 1 hour before testing. Continue taking all your prescription medications and supplements as normal but please note them on your patient form at checkout.

Once you have ordered via our website you will receive an email notification when your kit has been shipped to you via Royal Mail 1st Class service for UK (courier for international orders). Please allow 3 working days for your kit to arrive. You can then freepost your sample back to the labs via Royal Mail 1st class prepaid envelope (note international orders are not free post).

We will then email you to let you know your sample has been safely received at the labs and your genotyping has started.

You will not hear from us during the time your sample is being processed unless there is an issue with your sample.

Each test is processed in the ISO certified UK laboratory and all physical samples are completely destroyed after 3 months. All client genotyping electronic data is completely destroyed after 6 months. The client report, the data and the DNA sample is never (and will never be) shared with, or sold to third parties.

For each mineral and metal covered, the report identifies your genetic variants and explains what they mean for absorption, distribution, storage, or excretion. Typical findings include:

• Whether you are genetically predisposed to absorb iron more or less efficiently (relevant for iron deficiency, but also for haemochromatosis-related variants where iron can accumulate)
• Whether you may need more magnesium, zinc, or selenium than the average person to maintain healthy levels
• How well your body handles arsenic and mercury, including how efficiently you produce the proteins (metallothioneins) that help bind and clear heavy metals
• Whether your blood pressure is likely to be salt-sensitive, based on your sodium and potassium handling genes
• How your copper and calcium balance may be affected by inherited variants

The report does not diagnose any condition. It maps your biological tendencies, so you and our team can make more informed decisions about diet, supplementation, and lifestyle.

A blood test for minerals (such as iron, ferritin, magnesium, or zinc) shows your current levels at a single moment in time. Those levels reflect what you have eaten and absorbed recently, plus any losses or demands on your body right now. Blood tests are essential for spotting active deficiency or excess, and they can change week to week.

A mineral DNA test does something different. It looks at the genetic variants that influence how your body interacts with minerals long-term. Those variants do not change. Someone with a genetic tendency toward poor zinc absorption, for example, may show normal zinc levels today because they are supplementing or eating zinc-rich food, but they may struggle to maintain optimal levels without ongoing attention.

The two test types complement each other well. Blood tests show your current status. The DNA test shows the underlying biology that determines what your status is likely to be over time, and which minerals you may need to pay closer attention to throughout life.

Essential minerals (like iron, zinc, and selenium) and heavy metals (like arsenic and mercury) share many of the same genetic pathways in the body. The same enzymes and transport proteins that help you absorb and use beneficial minerals are often involved in handling toxic metals too. A genetic variant that affects one usually affects the other.

The metallothionein genes (MT1A and MT2A) are a good example. These code for small proteins that bind and help clear heavy metals from cells, but they also play a role in zinc and copper balance. People with reduced metallothionein activity may be more sensitive to heavy metal exposure and more vulnerable to imbalances in essential trace minerals.

Looking at both together gives a more complete picture than testing minerals alone, especially for people concerned about historical environmental exposure or who simply want to understand how their body manages everyday low-level contact with metals from food, water, and air.

People who tend to find this test most useful include:

• Anyone with persistent fatigue, low energy, muscle cramps, or restless legs that may point to mineral imbalance
• People with iron-related issues (low ferritin, anaemia, or a family history of haemochromatosis), where genetic context can be useful
• Athletes and those with high training loads, where magnesium, zinc, and electrolyte handling can affect performance and recovery
• People preparing for pregnancy or trying to conceive, where mineral status meaningfully affects outcomes
• Anyone concerned about heavy metal exposure (from amalgam fillings, fish consumption, occupational exposure, or environmental sources) and wanting to understand their genetic capacity to detoxify
• People with high blood pressure who suspect a salt-sensitive component
• Anyone with a family history of mineral-related health issues who wants the data on file for life
• Parents who want baseline genetic information for their child that stays valid permanently

The most useful approach is to combine your DNA results with your symptoms, diet, and (where available) recent blood tests, rather than supplementing based on the DNA report alone.

When your written report or video call is prepared, our practitioners look at your genetic profile alongside the patient form you completed at checkout, and identify the minerals most worth focusing on. For example, someone with a TRPM6 variant linked to reduced magnesium absorption may be advised on a specific form of magnesium (such as magnesium glycinate or citrate) at a targeted dose. Someone with reduced metallothionein activity may benefit from supporting their detoxification pathways more deliberately, alongside reducing exposure where possible.

The aim is targeted, evidence-based supplementation rather than taking a wide range of products in hope something helps. This usually reduces the total number of supplements you take, while improving how well each one works.

No, and this is an important distinction. A DNA test for heavy metals shows your genetic capacity to handle and clear them, not whether they are currently present in your body. Someone with very efficient detoxification genes can still have a heavy metal burden if exposure has been high; someone with poor detoxification genes may have low levels if exposure has been minimal.

To check current heavy metal status, you need a test that measures the metals themselves, typically in urine (often with a provocation agent to release stored metals from tissues) or hair. These tests look at what is actually present right now. A genetic test like this one tells you how well your body is biologically equipped to deal with what comes in, which then helps interpret the results of any measurement-based heavy metal testing you may have done before or in the future.

If you would like to look at both genetics and current heavy metal status, our team can advise on the best combination for your situation.

Both tests look at how your genes influence nutrition, but they cover different ground.

The Nutrient Core DNA Test focuses on vitamins (A, B9, B12, C, D, K), gluten and lactose tolerance, caffeine metabolism, blood sugar control, microbiome diversity, inflammation, and circadian rhythm. It is a broader nutrigenomics overview.

The Minerals and Metals DNA Test focuses specifically on essential minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, phosphorus, sodium, potassium) and heavy metal handling (arsenic, mercury, metallothionein function). It is the right choice if your concerns are weighted toward mineral deficiency, anaemia, electrolyte balance, heavy metal exposure, or salt-sensitive blood pressure.

Many people order both tests to build a comprehensive nutritional genomics picture, particularly if working on complex health goals or before a long-term supplementation plan. If you would like help deciding which is right for you, get in touch and our team can advise based on your symptoms and goals.