Consumer DNA test
Ancestry and wellness traits from a saliva sample. Fun and sometimes informative - but not a substitute for clinical testing.
TypeGenetic
HowSaliva sample mailed to a company.
How oftenOnce.
Before—
WhoCurious users; not a diagnostic test.
Consumer vs clinical genetic tests
Consumer tests look at selected spots in your DNA. Clinical tests read whole genes and are interpreted by experts.
Consumer tests
“What can I learn?”
Ancestry, traits and some health variants.
Curiosity
Wellness claims
“Should I change my diet or supplements?”
Variants like MTHFR are often over-interpreted. Don’t supplement based on a variant alone.
Use caution
Clinical confirmation
“I got a worrying result.”
Confirm with a clinical test and genetic counselor before acting.
Confirm first
Is it right for you?
Worth considering if…
- You’re curious about ancestry and traits.
- You want to explore family history and find relatives.
- You plan to confirm any health findings clinically.
A better option if…
- You have a strong family history - see a clinical hereditary panel instead.
How it’s measured
Genotyping array
Checks hundreds of thousands of selected sites.
The full picture
What is it?
A direct-to-consumer genetic test.
What type of test is it?
A genetic test.
What does it measure?
Selected DNA variants.
Why might someone consider it?
Curiosity about ancestry and traits.
Who is it most relevant for?
Curious users.
How is it performed?
A saliva sample.
How often might it be considered?
Once.
What can the result help you understand?
Ancestry and some trait associations.
What are its limitations?
Misses many variants; privacy considerations; wellness claims often overstated.
What should it be viewed with?
Clinical tests and family history.
Where to get it
Through your provider
Often with a genetic counselor - and more likely covered when family history supports it.
Genetic counseling services
Help you decide what to test and what results mean.
Direct-to-consumer tests
Available, but results should be confirmed clinically before acting on them.
Names are examples only, not endorsements. Your provider can often order the same test - and help interpret it.
Connected to
Questions to ask your provider
- Should I confirm my consumer result clinically?
Ziva Health
One test is a snapshot. Ziva shows the whole story.
Ziva brings your lab results, wearables and daily readings together - and Isabella tells you what’s changing and what to ask your provider next.
Refer Ziva to my provider / care team
Is your provider not on Ziva yet? Send them a link in under a minute - once they join, they’ll see your Consumer DNA test result alongside your other trends and get alerts directly.
Refer my providerAlready seeing your provider?
Bring your Ziva 30-day report to your next appointment - your Consumer DNA test result and daily trends in one view, so the conversation starts with the full picture.
Get my 30-day reportNo provider? Find a clinical partner
Being listed doesn’t mean everyone needs this test. Educational only — not medical advice. Results should be interpreted with a qualified clinician. ← Back to Know What to Test