Types of tests

The main kinds of genetic test, what each is for, and roughly what it costs, so you can tell which one your question actually needs.

What are the main types of genetic test?

The main types are wellness and lifestyle tests, clinical disease panels, carrier and reproductive screening, pharmacogenomic (medication-response) tests, and ancestry tests, each built for a different purpose.

What does a wellness genetic test actually tell me?

A wellness test tells you how your body tends to handle nutrition, fitness, sleep, stress, and caffeine, useful, low-stakes information for everyday choices, not a diagnosis.

Can a DNA test diagnose a disease?

No. Consumer DNA tests estimate risk and report tendencies; they do not diagnose. A flagged risk should always be confirmed with a proper clinical test before anyone acts on it medically.

What is carrier screening, and who needs it?

Carrier screening checks whether you carry a hidden recessive variant, like thalassemia, that is harmless to you but matters if your partner carries the same one, because a child could then inherit the condition.