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Genex Diagnostics Review: Affordable At-Home DNA Testing?

Written by Samantha Odake, BS | Last updated:

 Overview

  1. Products: DNA tests.
  2. Cost: $99 to $489.
  3. Reports: Relationship, health, nutrition, fitness, and ancestry reports.
  4. Raw data access: No.
  5. Privacy: Genex Diagnostics claims to not share personal information with third parties.
  6. Alternatives: SelfDecode offers personalized health recommendations based on an analysis of up to 83 million genetic variants.

Pros

  • The company offers a variety of DNA tests and reports.
  • Offers expert Ph.D. consultations for a fee.

Cons

  • Each DNA report requires a different test.
  • The tests are expensive.
  • There are extra costs for additional reports and consultations.
  • Does not offer advanced polygenic risk scoring.
  • Does not offer personalized health recommendations.
  • Limited number of SNPs analyzed.
  • Does not integrate lab results for health insights.

About Genex Diagnostics

Genex Diagnostics is a DNA testing company founded in 2003. They claim their goal is to make DNA testing more accessible and believe that genetic testing will become a standard of care in personalized medicine. The company states they currently process about 60,000 samples annually. They ship their tests worldwide.

Review of Genex Diagnostics Products & Features

Genex Diagnostics offers at-home health, wellness, and relationship DNA tests. As shown below, the company explains the benefits of genetic testing.

The Relationship tests are indicated for those who wish to confirm a biological relationship. The results are ready in one business day, and the company offers tests that can be used for legal purposes for an increased price. The tests include Paternity and Maternity tests, a DNA Grandparent test, and others.

The Health & Disease tests give information about many health conditions. The company offers the following tests:

  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Skin Health
  • Thrombotic Risk
  • Osteoporosis
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Narcolepsy

The Diet & Fitness tests deliver DNA-based information on nutrition, fitness, and food sensitivities. The tests are listed below.

  • Diet and Fitness 3 Test Combo (Nutrition, Fitness, and Weight Loss)
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Weight Loss
  • Celiac Disease
  • Caffeine Sensitivity
  • Lactose Intolerance
  • Alcohol Intolerance

The Behavior & Traits tests discuss several personality traits and conditions such as aggressiveness, love for adventure, anxiety, and depression.

The DNA Maternal Ancestry test is a mitochondrial DNA test that traces direct maternal lineage. The DNA Paternal Ancestry test analyzes markers on the Y chromosome to determine direct paternal lineage.

Each DNA test requires an individual sample collection, and the reports are delivered separately. The company offers phone consultations and expert Ph.D. consultations for an additional fee.

Review of Genex Diagnostics Reports

Genex Diagnostics does not offer sample reports, so it’s unclear what results you’ll receive. The reports are available on the user’s secure online account. Customers can also request that the report be mailed or emailed to them.

The company claims that the health and wellness reports include explanations about how DNA and health are connected, but they do not offer personalized recommendations to help you address your health issues. Genex only states that physicians can use your results to plan personalized treatment plans.

The Health & Disease reports include an analysis of various health conditions. Each test analyzes genetic markers related to the specific condition. For example, the Cardiovascular Health test examines SNPs related to lipid levels, including cholesterol and triglycerides. The report reveals if you have genetic variants that can affect heart health.

The Diet & Fitness tests focus on traits that are linked to overall well-being, such as fitness and nutrition. For instance, the Nutrition test analyzes how genes affect the absorption and usage of certain vitamins and minerals.

As seen in the screenshot below, the report explains how the body metabolizes different nutrients.

Genex Diagnostics report

Since the company does not provide sample reports, the extent of the information provided in the reports is unclear. You can download the results as soon as they are available online.

For the most up-to-date information about Genex Diagnostics plans and prices, please visit their official website.

Cost of Genex Diagnostics

Genex Diagnostics’ Relationship tests start at $99. If customers wish to use the results for legal purposes, the cost increases. The company offers professional collection and witnessing services for $50 per person tested.

The Health & Disease tests cost between $149 to $349. The Diet & Fitness test prices vary from $149 to $489. The DNA Maternal and Paternal Ancestry tests cost $119 each. The Behavior & Traits tests are priced at $149.

They may charge extra fees for additional report copies. A 10-minute phone consultation costs $10. The expert Ph.D. consultation costs $400 per hour (minimum of one hour).

Health Recommendations from Genex Diagnostics

As Genex Diagnostics does not provide sample reports on their website, it is unclear the extent of the health recommendations they provide. The only claim they make is that a physician is able to use your results to plan personalized treatment options. If you’re interested in understanding what you can do to address your genetic risks, you might need to look elsewhere.

SNP Analysis vs Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) vs Advanced PRS

When it comes to understanding genetic risks, the type of analysis used makes all the difference. Most companies, including Genex Diagnostics, rely on SNP analysis, which examines a few individual genetic variants associated with specific traits or conditions. While this approach can provide limited insights, it doesn’t capture the complexity of how multiple genes interact to influence your health.

Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) represent a major advancement. Instead of focusing on one or two variants, PRS combines the effects of millions of variants across your entire genome to calculate a more accurate prediction of your risk for various health conditions. This allows for a deeper understanding of your unique genetic predispositions.

Advanced PRS, like the one developed by SelfDecode, takes this one step further by adjusting results based on ancestry and integrating additional data, such as symptoms, lab results, and lifestyle factors, to provide the most accurate and actionable health insights available today. This method, validated in peer-reviewed research published in a Nature journal, ensures that your predictions aren’t just broad averages but are fine-tuned to your individual background and biology.

While traditional SNP-based approaches can cost only a few thousand dollars to develop, building an advanced PRS system with multiomic integration like SelfDecode’s requires millions in research and infrastructure, over $25 million, in fact.

The result is a platform capable of analyzing more than 200 million variants, generating highly personalized, science-backed health recommendations that far exceed what basic genetic testing companies like Genex Diagnostics can offer.

Review of Genex Diagnostics Privacy & Data Security

Genex Diagnostics maintains that personal information will only be used to carry out their services. They state that they employ electronic and physical procedures to safeguard the data and prevent it from being wrongly accessed.

The company claims not to disclose personal information to third parties, except if it is required by law. They say users can withdraw their consent to the processing of their personal information at any time.

Genex Diagnostics Reviews

Despite the many years in business, there are not many online Genex Diagnostics reviews available. 7 DNAtestingchoice users rate the paternity test an average of 4 of 5 stars. All reviews revolve around the paternity test and they say the company provides quick and accurate results.

BestDNATestingKits rates the company 4 of 5 stars. They like the wide variety of DNA tests and the simple sample collection but say the test prices are very expensive.

Alternatives to Genex Diagnostics

While Genex Diagnostics offers a wide range of DNA tests, SelfDecode provides a far more advanced and scientifically validated approach to understanding your health through your genetics. SelfDecode’s technology goes beyond traditional SNP-based methods by using ancestry-adjusted polygenic risk scoring, published in a Nature journal, to deliver the most accurate predictions of conditions and traits available in the industry.

Unlike Genex, which analyzes a small number of variants per report, SelfDecode leverages advanced AI to analyze over 200 million variants, integrating millions into each individual report. These insights are not just genetic snapshots, they combine your DNA data with symptoms, lab results, and lifestyle information to generate highly personalized health recommendations you can act on right away.

SelfDecode’s models are backed by six published studies in top-tier scientific journals, confirming the platform’s accuracy and reliability. With over 1,500 comprehensive health reports, users gain access to detailed analyses across nutrition, fitness, mental health, longevity, and more, making it the most complete DNA-based wellness platform available.

In addition to its genetic insights, SelfDecode supports multiomics integration, allowing users to combine their DNA results with blood tests for even more refined recommendations. All data is handled under strict HIPAA and GDPR compliance, ensuring full privacy and security.

Developing a system with this level of sophistication has required an investment of over $25 million, compared to the low-thousands development cost of simpler testing platforms. The result is a scientifically validated, deeply personalized, and privacy-focused solution that empowers individuals and health professionals alike to make data-driven decisions for optimal well-being.

Feature SelfDecode Genex Diagnostics
Scientific Accuracy Ancestry-adjusted polygenic risk scores published in a Nature journal Basic SNP-based interpretation
Variant Coverage 200M+ variants analyzed, millions per report Limited SNP panels per test
Health Recommendations Integrates symptoms, labs, conditions, and genetic data for personalized advice Not available
Number of Reports 1,500+ reports Limited
Validation & Research 6 published validation studies in peer-reviewed journals Not publicly available
Privacy & Security HIPAA & GDPR compliant Unclear; privacy details not disclosed
Multiomics Integration Yes – genetics + blood tests Not available
Customization Dynamic recommendations updated with new data Static PDF report per panel

Genex Diagnostics Review Summary

Genex Diagnostics offers health, wellness, and biological relationship tests. Despite the variety of tests offered, how convenient they are is debatable. Each test requires a separate sample collection. If users wish to get tested for multiple health conditions, they are required to purchase and take several tests.

From their website, you might be left confused about what exactly your report will include. The information provided is vague, and the prices are high. As it is, one health-focused DNA report from Genex Diagnostics can cost up to $349.

If you’re interested in a gene-based approach to your health, an alternative such as SelfDecode is a better option. SelfDecode uses AI and machine learning to analyze up to 200 million genetic variants and gives personalized recommendations based on your DNA. If you want a more holistic approach to health and wellness, SelfDecode is a great place to start, with reports on over 1,500 health topics.

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About the Author

Samantha Odake

Samantha Odake

BS
Samantha is an engineer turned writer with a passion for helping people.

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