What Peter Attia Really Thinks About DNA Test Kits

Up until a few years ago, if you wanted to test your genetic risk for diseases that could shorten your life, you’d have to ask your primary care physician to run in-office diagnostics. Now, at-home DNA test kits make assessing biomarkers easy and convenient. But sorting through the noise yourself and choosing a kit that will tell you exactly what you want to know about your health can be tricky. 

In a recent Ask Me Anything episode on The Drive podcast, longevity expert Peter Attia, M.D., explains how to evaluate over-the-counter genetic tests, so you get the most bang—and the most useful health insights—for your buck. 

The Best DNA Test Kits, Per Peter Attia

Not all direct-to-consumer DNA tests target the same biomarkers. Attia analyzed the six most popular tests based on factors like their sequencing of single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs (the small variations in the sequence of your genes that can determine your risk for disease), cost, privacy, and more. Here’s how they stack up.

SelfDecode

SelfDecode’s genetic test is the first of two that Attia would recommend based on the high number of SNPs tested, its strong privacy policy, and result interpretation. After you receive your results, health coaches walk you through optimal diets, supplements, and workout regimens based on your unique genetics.

 

Cost: $200-$300 for 83 million SNPs, $97 annual subscription

DNA Collection Method: Saliva sample

Wait Period: 6-8 weeks

 

Attia’s Pros:

• Large number of SNPs tested
• Allows uploads of data from a few competitor companies
• Strong privacy policy that allows you to permanently delete your data at any time
• Health recommendations based on your results
• Offers 1:1 consultations with health coaches to interpret results

 

Attia’s Cons:

• Requires $97 annual subscription to access results
• Tests not available in all states (excludes Arizona, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island)
• Health coach 1:1s are not available with data from competitors

SelfDecode ($200+)

Toolbox Genomics

Toolbox Genomics earns Attia’s recommendation due to its affordability, customized health recommendations, and easy-to-follow results. In addition to genetic testing, it also offers epigenetic testing—which factors environment and lifestyle into your results.

 

Cost: $200-$300 for 1,000 SNPs

DNA Collection Method: Cheek swab

Wait Period: 6 weeks for DNA test results, 8 weeks for epigenetic test results

 

Attia’s Pros:

• Offers epigenetic testing
• Summary reports are easy to follow
• Includes personalized health recommendations based on results, which are updated in-app after each epigenetic test

 

Attia’s Cons:

• Some health scores are based on “shaky and debated” science
• Updates on epigenetics require repeated tests every 3 months

Toolbox Genomics ($200+)

23andMe

23andMe tests do more than analyze your ancestry. While many buyers use it to connect with long-lost family members, 23andMe’s $69 premium subscription also allows access to information about allergies, genetic illness carrier status, and more through a saliva sample that you send in via mail to be analyzed by a lab.

 

Cost: $200 for 650,000 SNPs, $69 annual premium subscription fee

DNA Collection Method: Saliva sample

Wait Period: 4-6 weeks

 

Attia’s Cons:

• Large number of SNPs tested
• Covers wide range of health and wellness areas—typically more than 150 reports on carrier tests
• Good user interface
• FDA-approved

 

Attia’s Cons:

• Requires an additional $69 premium subscription for access to all reports
• Concerns over its privacy policy

23andMe ($200+)

InsideTracker

InsiderTracker is popular amongst longevity experts like David Sinclair and Mark Hyman for its biological age assessments—but you can also access limited DNA results. The DNA test analyzes up to 261 gene variants through a cheek swab sample.

 

Cost: $250 for 261 SNPs

DNA Collection Method: Cheek swab

Wait Period: 4-6 weeks

 

Attia’s Pros:

• Allows uploads of data from a few competitor companies
• User-friendly platform
• Offers blood tests for lipids and other biomarkers

 

Attia’s Cons:

• Very few SNPs tested
• Only provides health recommendations from blood tests, not DNA tests

InsideTracker ($250)

Nebula Genomics

Nebula Genomics offers three DNA testing levels based on how many times every letter of your DNA is read: Standard (0.4x), Deep (30x), and Ultra Deep (100x). The more times a letter on your DNA is read, the more accurate your results will be.

 

Cost: $100 to $1,000 for whole genome sequencing (Peter recommends the “Deep” 30X option), $99 annual subscription fee

DNA Collection Method: Saliva sample

Wait Period: 12-14 weeks

 

Attia’s Pros:

• Provides whole-genome sequencing
• Strong emphasis on privacy

 

Attia’s Cons:

• Kit cost is high, and a $99 annual subscription is required
• Reports use jargon that can be hard to the average person to decypher
• No personalized health recommendations

Nebula Genomics ($100+)

Sequencing.com

Sequencing.com screens for more than 10,000 rare diseases (such as familial Alzheimer’s, congenital heart defects, and lymphoedema) and whole-genome sequencing. Users can also upload previous clinical or direct-to-consumer DNA tests to the online platform. The test kit uses a cheek swab DNA sample, which takes up to 12 weeks to process once received by Sequencing.com.

 

Cost: $400 for whole-genome sequencing

DNA Collection Method: Cheek swab

Wait Period: 10-12 weeks

 

Attia’s Pros:

• Provides whole-genome sequencing
• Allows uploads of test results from other companies
• Very strong privacy policy that allows you to permanently delete your data at any time

 

Attia’s Cons:

• Basic package is sequencing only
• Some tests for specific traits/diseases involve third-party testing facilities and apps

Sequencing.com ($400)