Gene Sequencing (Template)
Gene Sequencing, Sorted By What A Clinician Can Actually Use.
The best companies in personal DNA testing — separated into clinician-ordered tests, consumer kits, whole-genome options, and dietitian-led nutrigenomics — with prices, test types, privacy notes, and the caveats that matter in 2026.
Do not change any medication, diet, or supplement on a DNA result alone. The FDA position reported in the research is that direct-to-consumer results should not guide therapy without independent clinical confirmation.
Take Any Result — especially a drug-response (pharmacogenomics) result — to the prescribing doctor first. DTC results are screening information, not a diagnosis.
What the test types actually mean
These five terms explain most of the price and usefulness differences below.
SNP chip
Reads a few hundred thousand known variant spots. Cheap; good for ancestry and selected risks; misses most rare variants. Used by 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage.
Targeted panel
Sequences a defined set of genes in depth — e.g. 30 cancer or 30 heart genes. The clinical workhorse for hereditary cancer and heart disease.
Whole exome (WES)
The ~1–2% protein-coding part of the genome. Used when a condition is suspected but no panel fits, or for rare disease.
Whole genome (WGS)
All ~3 billion bases. “30×” means each base read ~30 times on average — the usual clinical-grade depth. Low-pass 1–2× is genealogy-grade, not clinical-grade.
Pharmacogenomics (PGx)
How variants in genes like CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, SLCO1B1, DPYD and TPMT affect drug response. Clinical PGx ≠ a DTC add-on.
Every company, with its caveats attached
Filter by the kind of conversation you want to have. Prices are as reported in the research (29 Oct 2026) and change frequently — verify at checkout or with the ordering clinician.
Labcorp formerly Invitae — specialty genetics
Clinician-grade
Large hereditary panels (cancer, cardiac, neurology, rare disease) plus exome, with ACMG-classified results a physician can act on and genetic counselling available.
Sources
Ambry Genetics now a Tempus subsidiary
Clinician-grade
Hereditary cancer, cardiac (e.g. CardioNext), neurology and carrier testing, plus ExomeReveal clinical exome with RNA reflex in ~5% of cases and ongoing “Patient for Life” reanalysis. Genetic counselling by phone/video included.
Sources
Color Health Color Genomics
Clinician-grade
Targeted panels, not WGS/WES for consumers: Hereditary Cancer (30 genes), BRCA1/2-only, Hereditary Heart Health (30 genes), Familial Hypercholesterolemia (3 genes), plus a pharmacogenomics panel reported at ~$299. Complimentary board-certified genetic counselling included.
*Turnaround is an open question in the research — confirm at ordering. Sponsored no-cost programmes exist for people at increased risk of ovarian/gynaecologic cancer (via Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and pharma funders) — worth asking a clinician about. Color states it does not “sell” or “share” personal information as defined by California privacy law.
Sources
PreventionGenetics Marshfield, Wisconsin
Clinician-grade
A very large clinical menu: custom and disease panels, PGxome® whole exome and PGnome® whole genome (nuclear + mitochondrial DNA, with secondary findings for preventable cancer/heart/anaesthesia conditions). A strong choice for a deep, diagnostic-grade workup. One free reanalysis within 3 years on physician request.
*Open questions in the research: self-pay price and turnaround are not published; an exome-wide CNV add-on was listed at $250 on requisition forms. Do not compare directly with $199–$499 DTC prices. Ownership note: a subsidiary of Exact Sciences; Abbott completed its ~$21bn acquisition of Exact Sciences in March 2026. No change to test availability was reported.
Sources
GeneDx
Clinician-grade
Targeted panels, WES and WGS with a rare-disease and hereditary-cancer focus; described in sources as the largest US clinical exome/genome volume. Genetic counselling support included.
*Sources give billed/reimbursement figures, not a checkout price: exome ~$1,500–$4,000 billed, average reimbursement ~$3,750 in Q4 2025. Your quote depends on indication and insurance. Privacy note: GeneDx earned ~$42m in 2025 from data licensing / biopharma partnerships using de-identified data — ask about research consent / opt-out if that matters to you.
Source
GeneSight Myriad Genetics — clinical drug-response testing
Clinician-grade · PGx
The prescriber-relevant special case: a cheek-swab PGx panel focused on ~60 psychiatric medicines (genes including CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP1A2, CYP2B6), reported as a green / yellow / red chart for the prescriber.
Evidence caveat: strongest for guiding antidepressant selection in some populations; weaker/mixed for other claims. It does not replace clinical judgement, interaction checks, or drug monitoring. Other clinician-ordered PGx options in the research: Tempus nP (~$295 self-pay, 13 genes), OneOme RightMed (~$349, 27 genes, 100+ drugs), Genomind (~$599).
Sources
Nucleus Genomics the bridge: consumer WGS, physician-ordered
Borderline
30× WGS through a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited US lab, with polygenic risk scores, family-planning tools, and a genetic-counselling option.
*That discrepancy is itself a reason to ask what the current panel covers. One review notes its polygenic scores have not been published/validated in peer-reviewed journals, and reports give risk information rather than tailored diet/supplement prescriptions. Samples were reported destroyed within 60 days in one roundup — verify in the current policy.
Sources
Sequencing.com consumer 30× whole genome
Consumer · screening
30× WGS of all ~30,000 genes/chromosomes, with downloadable FASTQ/BAM/VCF files and a bundle covering a Next-Gen Disease Screen for 15,000+ conditions, carrier, autoimmune, cardiovascular, EDS and medication-response markers.
Total-cost warning: marketplace apps run ~$0–$399 each, so a comprehensive workup can cost well above $399. Reviewers stress results are not clinical/diagnostic. *Transparency gap flagged: the current partner lab and its CAP/CLIA status were not named on the product page checked.
Sources
Dante Labs consumer 30× whole genome
Consumer · screening
30× WGS (claimed on Illumina NovaSeq X) with FASTQ/BAM/VCF free to download; 90+ reports included, 760–810+ with Premium. Reports are described as “physician-ready” (ACMG-classified) — but this remains a consumer product, not a clinician-ordered diagnostic.
Sources
Nebula Genomics
Discontinued — do not buy
Was a well-regarded 30× WGS service (~$299 at peak; 0.4× low-pass from ~$99) with FASTQ/BAM/VCF and weekly research reports.
That listing was not verified as an active Nebula offer, and the dedicated shutdown review says there is nothing left to buy. Treat any 2026 page still selling “Nebula” as a live kit with suspicion. Downloaded files can still be uploaded to third-party analysis tools.
Source
23andMe now under TTAM Research Institute
Consumer · FDA-authorized screening
The only mainstream DTC kit with a set of FDA-authorized health, carrier and pharmacogenetics reports — 150+ reports in Health + Ancestry. But it is a SNP chip (~630,000 spots, ~0.1% of the genome), not sequencing.
Sources
AncestryDNA ancestry first, health second
Consumer · ancestry
Ancestry, relatives and historical records are the product (tens of millions of testers, 60bn+ records). Health is limited to 75+ wellness-style traits, with no clinical health-report category comparable to 23andMe.
Privacy: states it does not sell personal information; research is opt-in. Account deletion, DNA-results deletion, sample destruction and research withdrawal are four separate controls, and data already shared with matches may persist. Acquired by Blackstone in 2020 — a structural point some privacy reviews flag.
Sources
MyHeritage DNA ancestry, strongest outside North America
Consumer · ancestry
Ancestry/ethnicity, DNA matches and family-history tools, with a ~9.6m database particularly strong for European, Middle Eastern and Scandinavian ancestry.
The reported move to low-pass 2× WGS is a real upgrade for matching — but genealogy-grade, not 30× clinical-grade. The health upgrade is not a substitute for clinical testing. Watch the total: a $32 sale kit can become a $200–$300 annual charge if a trial is not cancelled (per a 2026 review). Privacy reported as comparatively favourable: sample destruction is the default, research is opt-in, and it states it will not sell/license data without explicit consent — verify in the current policy.
Sources
Nutrigenomix best fit for “use with a dietitian”
Practitioner-only
A targeted nutrigenomic panel interpreted by your own practitioner and turned into a meal plan: nutrient metabolism and deficiency risk (vitamins A, B12, C, D, E, folate, choline, iron, calcium), cardiometabolic health, weight management, gluten / lactose / caffeine predispositions, and fitness (power vs endurance, injury risk, bone mass).
Important: a “gluten” or “lactose” flag is a genetic predisposition to intolerance, not a diagnosis of coeliac disease or food allergy. Ask which panel your practitioner uses — an older 45-marker panel is still cited by many clinics. Example pricing in sources: $398–$399 test alone in older listings; $530, or $720 with a dietitian plan + 60-min consultation, at one clinic. Ask the practitioner for the lab’s data-retention and deletion terms — they were not published in the sources found.
Sources
DNAfit → CircleDNA diet & fitness, now exome-based
Consumer · wellness
DNAfit now redirects to CircleDNA, which uses next-generation sequencing (exome-based) rather than a simple chip: diet and nutrient insights, personalised meal plans, fitness, stress/sleep — plus, in broader panels, disease-risk, carrier and pharmacogenomics reports. Includes a free 30-minute consultation (genetics-trained coach / counsellor, depending on panel).
CircleDNA pricing in sources: Vital (125+ reports) ~$189, Health (115+ reports) ~$499, Premium (500+ reports) ~$629 — it varies sharply by region and promotion, so verify the current panel and price. An older DNAfit privacy review flagged clauses allowing data to be passed to third parties for research with or without consent — read the current CircleDNA policy before ordering.
Sources
Also in nutrition & analysis four names worth knowing
Wellness
Smaller or narrower options from the research, for completeness in a dietitian conversation:
Nutrigenomics reports in general are wellness/predisposition reports, not diagnoses. Evidence is better supported for vitamin D, caffeine, lactose and some lipid/weight genes than for many “eat for your DNA” claims.
Already have your raw data? Upload it instead
If you downloaded your 23andMe raw data file before the company’s assets were sold, that file is still usable: several services will run fresh reports from it — no new kit, no new sample. Download and upload both still work under the new owner, per a 2026 roundup.
Best for taking to a doctor or dietitian
- SelfDecode — accepts 23andMe uploads. Uses imputation to estimate far more variants than the chip measured, then turns them into prioritised health, nutrition, sleep, longevity and medication-response reports — the most doctor-conversation-ready of the upload services. Pricing varies by source (roughly $97–$297/year in one guide, higher bundles elsewhere), so check current plans before signing up.
- Genetic Lifehacks — 400+ in-depth reports with linked research, and your data never leaves your device. A strong pick if privacy matters most.
- FoundMyFitness — free, research-backed nutrition and longevity reports from Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s team. A natural one to hand a dietitian.
Cheapest second look
- Promethease — still active, about $25 per report. Matches your variants against the SNPedia research database and reports everything known about them, good and bad. Dense and technical — raw research, not a report you’d hand a doctor as-is.
- Genetic Genie — free (donations welcome), with methylation and detox panels plus ClinVar lookups, and data deleted within 24 hours.
If you don’t want your DNA on someone’s server
- GeneGaze — processes the file in your browser; it states your genome never leaves your device.
- Full Human Health — also runs in the browser with the file never uploaded; about $5 per report.
A marketplace option
- Sequencing.com — free upload of an existing file (you don’t have to buy its whole-genome kit, listed in the company cards above), then individual analysis apps priced separately, roughly $29–$179 each, covering health, nutrition, fitness and carrier screening.
Three caveats before uploading anywhere. (1) A 23andMe file is SNP-chip data — roughly 640,000 variants — not a whole genome, so it can’t unlock the deeper whole-genome analyses some services advertise. (2) None of these reports are diagnostic: they flag variants, they don’t diagnose, and anything medication-related needs clinical confirmation before acting on it. (3) Check each site’s deletion policy before uploading — “free” tools often monetise or upsell, so prefer clear deletion and no-sale terms.
Comparison at a glance
“Clinician-grade” means ordered/reviewed by a clinician, in a CLIA/CAP lab, with a report designed for medical use. Everything else is screening or informational — confirm clinically before acting.
| Company | Test type | Price (approx.) | Turnaround | Doctor involved? | Clinician-grade? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labcorp (ex-Invitae) | Panels + exome | $250–$500 panels; exome $1,250–$2,500 historic | ~10–21 days | Clinician-ordered | Yes |
| Ambry (Tempus) | Panels + exome | ~$249 self-pay; $0–$100 insured | ~14–21 days | Must be doctor-ordered | Yes |
| Color Health | Targeted panels (30 genes) | ~$249 cancer; ~$99 BRCA historic; PGx ~$299 | 2–4 wks typical* | Physician-ordered | Yes |
| PreventionGenetics | Panels + WES + WGS | Not published | Not verified* | Must be provider-ordered | Yes |
| GeneDx | Panels + WES + WGS | Billed $1,500–$4,000 exome | Not verified* | Clinician-ordered | Yes |
| GeneSight (Myriad) | PGx panel — psychiatric drugs | ≤$330 patient cap; list ~$2,000 | Lab 2–3 days | Must be prescriber-ordered | Yes (PGx) |
| Nucleus Genomics | 30× WGS | ~$399–$499 + $39/yr | ~4–6 weeks | Physician-ordered | Borderline |
| Sequencing.com | 30× WGS | $399 bundle + apps $0–$399 ea. | 7–16 wks* | None by default | No — screening |
| Dante Labs | 30× WGS | From ~$449 + $99/yr | Advertised 6–8; reported 8–14 wks | None by default | No — screening |
| Nebula Genomics | 30× WGS (was) | Was ~$299 | — | None | Discontinued Feb 2025 |
| 23andMe | SNP chip (~630k) | ~$99–$199; Total Health ~$499 | ~3–5 weeks | None | No — FDA-authorized screening |
| AncestryDNA | SNP chip (~682k) | ~$99 + subscription | ~6–8 weeks | None | No — ancestry |
| MyHeritage | Chip → reported 2× low-pass WGS | ~$79–$89 + subscription | ~3–4 weeks | None | No — ancestry |
| Nutrigenomix | SNP panel, 70 markers | ~$300–$550 incl. practitioner | ~2–4 weeks | Practitioner-only | Wellness, practitioner-guided |
| DNAfit → CircleDNA | SNP → exome-based | ~$189–$629 | Several weeks* | Coach / counsellor session | No — wellness |
* Marked items are open questions or conflicting figures in the research — see “What could not be verified” below.
A practical path
Framing from the research — a sequence to discuss, not a recommendation to buy any specific test.
Start with your own doctors
A 15-minute talk about family history — cancer, heart disease, diabetes, medication problems — decides whether a panel, a PGx test, or no test is right, and whether insurance covers it.
If medication response is the worry
Ask the prescriber about clinician-ordered PGx: GeneSight for psychiatric medicines; broader panels (OneOme, Tempus) for cardiology / pain / GI drugs. Never change a dose on a DTC report.
If diet is the goal
Book the dietitian first and ask whether they use Nutrigenomix (or 3×4 Genetics). The value is in the consultation, not the kit alone.
If you want genome data for the future
Sequencing.com or Dante Labs give you the files — budget for extra reports, expect long waits, download raw files immediately, and confirm any striking finding clinically.
Before any DTC kit
Decide on research consent (default: decline), sample storage (default: destroy), and whether you’re comfortable that a company — or a future buyer, as 23andMe and Nebula customers learned — will hold your data.
Insurance-discrimination note: GINA (US) protects against health-insurance and employment discrimination based on genetic information — but not life, disability, or long-term-care insurance. DTC companies are generally not covered by HIPAA the way a clinician-ordered test is; privacy rests on their policy and state genetic-privacy laws.
Doctor & dietitian discussion sheet
Print this page from your browser, or copy the questions below, and bring it to the appointment.
Questions to ask
For Monty & Carolyn — gene testing discussion. Bring a list of current prescriptions and supplements, and any family history you know.
For the doctor
- Given our family history, is a clinical panel (cancer / heart) worthwhile — and would insurance cover it?
- If so, which lab do you use — Labcorp, Ambry, Color, PreventionGenetics, GeneDx?
- Would a clinician-ordered drug-response (PGx) test help with any current prescription?
- If we already have a consumer result, would you order a clinical test to confirm it before we act?
- How will results, variants of uncertain significance, and reclassification be handled and recorded?
- What are the implications for life, disability, or long-term-care insurance?
For the dietitian / nutritionist
- Do you use Nutrigenomix or 3×4 Genetics — and which panel version (70-marker vs older 45)?
- Which findings would actually change our meal plan, vs. which are just interesting?
- How do you weigh a gluten / lactose predisposition against symptoms and blood tests?
- What does the total cost include — test, consultation, and follow-up plan?
- Who holds our genetic data, how long is it kept, and can it be deleted?
- Before any kit: research consent declined? Sample set to be destroyed after testing?
Testing companies ≠ the companies that make the machines
Illumina, PacBio and Oxford Nanopore sell sequencers to laboratories. You do not buy a health test from them — Illumina’s historic consumer-facing TruGenome service is long discontinued.
Illumina
Sequencing-by-synthesis, short reads (~2×150 bp), very high accuracy, lowest cost per base, highest throughput. The workhorse behind most clinical panels and WGS.
PacBio (Pacific Biosciences)
HiFi long reads (~10–25 kb) at ~99.8% accuracy — strong for structural variants and phasing, where short reads struggle.
Oxford Nanopore
Ultra-long reads (10–100 kb+), portable (MinION), real-time, with direct DNA/RNA and methylation detection. Accuracy now >99% in Q20+ modes, but more context-dependent.
What could not be verified
- Color Health’s current consumer availability and pricing (sources are largely historic / sponsored-programme material; its business has shifted toward employer and health-system services).
- PreventionGenetics and GeneDx patient self-pay prices and turnaround times (not published; clinician/insurer-quoted only).
- Sequencing.com’s current partner lab name and CAP/CLIA status (not named on the page opened), and its turnaround (7–8 vs 10–16 weeks in different roundups).
- Whether any “DNA Complete (Nebula)” product is genuinely active in 2026 — it conflicts with the dedicated shutdown review.
- Dante Labs’ current sample type (blood spot vs saliva) and post-acquisition data-handling terms.
- Nutrigenomix and CircleDNA current privacy/deletion terms (not found in primary policy text; practitioner/clinic terms apply).
- All prices are from secondary/roundup sources unless a card says “opened” — re-check live before any decision. No checkout was performed and no account was created during the research.
- Raw-data upload services (SelfDecode, Promethease, Genetic Genie, GeneGaze, Full Human Health, FoundMyFitness, Genetic Lifehacks): prices and deletion terms come from a 2026 roundup and the services’ own descriptions — verify current plans and privacy terms on each site before uploading your file.
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