Search "DNA test" and you will find dozens of options that all promise to explain your genes. The harder problem is not finding a DNA test, it is knowing which one actually answers your question. A comprehensive panel, a methylation-specific test, a combined Gold Genetic test, and a single-marker test like APOE or MTHFR are built to do different jobs, and ordering the wrong one usually means paying twice.
This guide walks through the i-screen DNA and genetics range by the question you are actually asking, not by product name, so you can order the right test once.
Start with what you actually want to know
Before comparing products, work out which of these sounds most like you.
- "I want the broadest possible snapshot of my genetics." Start with the Comprehensive DNA Test.
- "I'm specifically interested in methylation, detoxification or MTHFR." Start with the Genetic Methylation Test, and read the note on MTHFR further down before you order.
- "I want both of the above, and I'm comfortable paying for the depth." The Gold Genetic Test combines them.
- "I have one specific question", such as a family history of iron overload, a coeliac disease concern, or a question about medication response. A targeted single-marker test usually answers it more directly, and for less, than a broad panel will.
- "I want my DNA result folded into a full annual health check", rather than ordered as a standalone test. The Women's Platinum Health & DNA Test bundles genetics with a comprehensive blood panel.
- "I've already tested and want to know what my results mean." Skip to "Already tested?" further down.
Comparing i-screen's DNA tests at a glance
| Test | Sample | What it covers | Price | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Comprehensive DNA Test | Cheek swab | 129 genes and 159 SNPs across digestion, energy, hormones, stress and cognitive performance, inflammation and longevity, athletic performance, methylation and detoxification | $389 | The broadest single genetic snapshot | | Genetic Methylation Test | Cheek swab | 129 tests across 8 core methylation and detox genes, including both MTHFR variants | $389 | A specific focus on methylation and detox pathways | | Gold Genetic Test | Cheek swab | Combines the Comprehensive and Methylation panels, 129 tests across 8 broader health areas | $445 | Wanting both angles without ordering twice | | MTHFR Blood Test / MTHFR Cheek Swab Test | Blood or cheek swab | The two MTHFR variants only (C677T and A1298C) | $69 / $125 | A single, specific MTHFR question, see the note below | | APOE Genotype Test | Pathology collection centre | One gene variant relevant to cholesterol metabolism, cardiovascular and cognitive health | $230 | A specific cardiovascular or cognitive question | | Haemochromatosis Test | Blood | Screens the HFE gene for Australia's most common inherited disorder, hereditary iron overload | $89 | Family history of iron overload | | HLA DQ/DR Haplotypes | Cheek swab | Markers relevant to coeliac disease, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune thyroid predisposition | $330 | A specific autoimmune or coeliac question | | Pharmacogenomics Test | Cheek swab | How your genes may relate to your response to certain medications | $299 | Discussing medication response with your healthcare provider | | Nutrigenomics Wellness Report | Cheek swab | 26 genetic traits across nutrition, metabolism, heart and cellular health | $299 | Diet and lifestyle personalisation specifically | | Women's / Men's Platinum Health & DNA Test | Blood, cheek swab and stool | A comprehensive blood panel plus 129-gene DNA insights and gut microbiome analysis, 210 tests in total | $1,099 | Wanting DNA folded into a full annual health check rather than ordered standalone |
All panels are processed through NATA-accredited Australian laboratories, and none require a GP referral.
The broad panels: Comprehensive DNA vs Gold Genetic
The Comprehensive DNA Test and the Genetic Methylation Test are both built around 129 tests, but they are reported around different questions. The Comprehensive test leans into digestion, energy, hormones, stress, cognitive performance, longevity and athletic performance, while the Genetic Methylation Test leans into methylation and detoxification specifically, across eight core genes including MTHFR, COMT and CBS.
If you are not sure which of those two angles matters more to you, the Gold Genetic Test removes the decision by combining both, at $445 against $389 for either one alone. It is the option to reach for if you would otherwise end up ordering both separately.
Methylation and MTHFR: what to know before you test
Methylation and MTHFR are two different things that often get talked about as one. Methylation is a broad biological process, involved in detoxification, energy production and cellular ageing, that the Genetic Methylation Test looks at across multiple genes. MTHFR is one specific gene within that picture, involved in folate metabolism, and it can also be tested on its own via the MTHFR Blood Test or MTHFR Cheek Swab Test.
Here is the part worth knowing before you order a standalone MTHFR test specifically. The RACGP's Genomics in General Practice guideline states that MTHFR gene testing is not recommended, that there is no substantial evidence of a causal link between MTHFR variants and disease, and that even mild homocysteine elevation is no longer considered a driver of clotting, cardiovascular or pregnancy-loss risk on current evidence [1]. It also states that MTHFR status does not change standard folic acid advice in pregnancy [1]. Carrying at least one of the two common MTHFR variants is very common, around 65% of people do, so on its own a positive result says little about your individual risk of anything [1].
That is not a reason to avoid the test, it is a reason to be clear about what it can and cannot tell you. An MTHFR result shows you which variants you carry, as a starting point for a conversation with your practitioner, not a standalone answer or a basis for changing your care. If your interest is in whether your methylation pathway is actually functioning differently in practice, rather than only which variants you carry, the Homocysteine Blood Test or a Methylation Pathways Test measure what is happening now rather than what your genes predict [2][3][4].
Have one specific question? A targeted test may be the better buy
Not every genetic question needs a full panel. If you are asking one specific thing, a single-marker test usually answers it more directly and for less money.
- A family history of iron overload points to the Haemochromatosis Test, which screens for Australia's most common inherited disorder.
- A cardiovascular or cognitive question, often prompted by family history, points to the APOE Genotype Test.
- A coeliac disease question, or a family history of type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or autoimmune thyroid disease, points to the HLA DQ/DR Haplotypes test.
- A question about how you might respond to certain medications points to the Pharmacogenomics Test, best discussed with your prescribing healthcare provider.
APOE, MTHFR and haemochromatosis markers are also included within the Comprehensive DNA Test, so if more than one of these questions applies to you, the broader panel may work out more cost-effective than ordering several targeted tests separately.
Want your DNA folded into a full health check instead?
If you are due for an annual health check anyway and would rather not order DNA as a separate purchase, the Women's Platinum Health & DNA Test combines a comprehensive blood panel with the 129-gene DNA panel and gut microbiome analysis, across blood, cheek swab and stool samples, in one order and one set of results. A Men's equivalent is also available.
Genetics and how you eat
If your question is specifically about diet and lifestyle rather than health risk broadly, the Nutrigenomics Wellness Report decodes 26 genetic traits across nutrition, metabolism, heart and cellular health, a narrower and less expensive option than a full comprehensive panel if nutrition is your main interest.
Already tested? Here is where the real value is
If you have already done a genetic test with i-screen, or elsewhere, the DNA result itself is only half the picture. The variants you carry are fixed, so there is nothing to re-test, but how you act on them benefits from a second look.
- A DNA Teleconsult, a 45-minute session with an accredited dietitian to walk through your results and turn them into supplement and lifestyle guidance.
- A DNA Nutrition Assessment, a written dietitian review if you would rather not book a call.
- A Methylation Pathways Test, if you have already tested for methylation and want to see whether your pathway is functioning differently in practice, rather than only which variants you carry.
If you tested for methylation specifically, we have a companion guide on what to do once you have your Genetic Methylation results.
A word on consumer DNA tests you may have already done
If you have done a direct-to-consumer test such as AncestryDNA or a similar ancestry-focused kit, it is not a substitute for the tests above. Those kits are built for ancestry and broad trait estimates, not for NATA-accredited health markers, and the specific genes and variants reported rarely line up with the ones covered here. If health insight is what you are after, the panels on this page are the ones built for that purpose.
This article is general information, not personal medical advice. It does not diagnose any condition. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare professional.
