Overview
- Products: Genomic Wellness Plus Test, smartGUT Microbiome Test, IBS GUT Detector Test, GUT Spectrum Test, PULS Cardiac Test
- Cost: $127 – $678
- Reports: Genomic Wellness Report
- Raw data access: No
- Privacy: Personal health data is sent to practitioners and falls under their privacy policies and protocols.
- Alternatives: SelfDecode – The best option for health-focused DNA analysis with personalized reports, symptom analysis, and health recommendations.
Pros
- In-depth analysis of your microbiome
- Tools to analyze the diversity and abundance of your microbiome
- Tests specific to Autism and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Dietary advice based on present and absent bacteria
Cons
- You must take the test through a registered practitioner (your doctor may qualify)
- More expensive than most microbiome tests
- No customer user interface (only your practitioner gets results)
- No personalized health recommendations
- Does not provide personalized recommendations based on DNA, labs, and lifestyle
- Does not integrate lab analysis
- Does not offer advanced polygenic risk scoring
- Only analyzes a limited number of SNPs
About SmartDNA
SmartDNA was established in 2009 by Dr. Margie Smith and Simone Walsh. The company operates out of Australia and offers its tests anywhere a practitioner has been certified. Dr. Smith has been involved in the DNA testing realm for decades, and Simone Walsh is the acting Director.
SmartDNA offers both DNA testing and microbiome testing. However, unlike most companies, SmartDNA requires that a certified practitioner receive and interpret your results for you. The company can certify your physician online, if they are willing. Otherwise, you can search for a certified practitioner in your area.
Review of SmartDNA Products & Features
SmartDNA does not offer a customer-facing portal. Only a certified practitioner may access the results of your test(s). SmartDNA also offers several allergy and histamine intolerance tests, but those will not be covered in this review.
The tests offered by SmartDNA are the following:
- Genomic Wellness Plus Test: Covers up to 160 DNA changes
- smartGUT Microbiome Test: Practitioners are able to use this information to understand how your diet and environment could be affecting your bowel flora and health in general
- IBS GUT Detector Test: Determines whether you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- GUT Spectrum Test: Determines whether you have bacteria associated with Autism
- PULS Cardiac Test: A blood test for the leading cause of heart attacks, Unstable Cardiac Lesion Rupture
Review of SmartDNA Reports
We will look at snippets from the Genomic Wellness Plus Test report below. This report is designed for your practitioner to guide you during a consultation for the following:
- Design a specific nutritional program
- Better weight management
- Assessment of genes involved in anti-oxidative defense
- Evaluation of your inflammatory response
- Reduce your environmental toxic burden
- Learn to manage mental and environmental stress
The report begins with a summary of the DNA test results and gene summary for specific conditions and topics. This section also contains a quick summary of recommended action steps. Some examples follow:
Following these summaries are sections for each condition or topic that go into greater detail. They explain the gene, substance, or condition covered, along with what your results mean, as well as action steps and comments. Here is an example of the Co-enzyme Q10 result:
Unfortunately, as a customer, you will not have access to these reports. The reports are not very well laid out and the language used is not user-friendly. Because these reports are meant to be interpreted by your health practitioner, they do not include very in-depth recommendations.
Cost of SmartDNA
The cost of the DNA and microbiome tests may differ depending on the provider and your insurance coverage. The following are the costs published on SmartDNA’s site, and do not include shipping charges of $30 to the US (flat rate shipping). Shipping is free if you enter a barcode for an existing kit upon checkout.
Single test costs:
- Genomic Wellness Plus Test – $127
- SmartGUT Microbiome Test – $254
- IBS GUT Detector Test – $254
- GUT Spectrum Test – $254
- PULS Cardiac Test – $270
- Genomic Wellness Test Upgrade – $127
Packages are also offered at these prices:
- Smart Wellness Test Package (1 saliva Kit & 1 Fecal Kit) – $508
- Smart Ultimate Wellness Package (1 Saliva Kit & 2 Fecal Kits) – $678
- Gut Spectrum Detector Test Package (2 x Fecal Kit) OMNIGUT – $424
- IBS GUT Detector Test Package (2 x Fecal Kit) OMNIGUT – $424
Health Recommendations from SmartDNA
SmartDNA’s reports are meant to be used by your practitioner to give you action steps to improve your health. Precise information with some scientific references is included, but you will not find extensive health recommendations directly in the reports. For more details, you will need to consult with your health provider.
SNP Analysis vs PRS vs Advanced PRS
Genetic testing varies widely depending on whether it focuses on individual SNPs, basic polygenic risk scores (PRS), or advanced ancestry-adjusted PRS. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis looks at individual genetic variants, small changes in your DNA that may slightly affect traits or disease risk. This approach is inexpensive and simple, but limited, as each SNP contributes only a tiny fraction of overall risk, similar to reading a single sentence to understand an entire book.
Basic polygenic risk scores (PRS) combine multiple SNPs into a single score, capturing more of the genetic influence on a trait or condition. Many consumer DNA tests use PRS with only a few dozen or hundreds of variants, offering a broader perspective than single SNPs but still falling short of fully representing the complexity of human genetics.
Advanced PRS, like the models used by SelfDecode, analyzes thousands to millions of variants while integrating additional factors such as age, sex, ancestry, lab results, and symptoms. This approach produces the most accurate and actionable insights, providing personalized recommendations to prevent or manage health conditions.
Unlike SmartDNA, which only examines a limited number of genes through a practitioner, SelfDecode uses AI-driven analysis to give users comprehensive, daily-updated reports that translate complex genetics into practical lifestyle, diet, and supplement advice.
While SNP analysis can offer a glimpse into your DNA and basic PRS provides a slightly broader view, advanced PRS delivers the clearest and most actionable insights for holistic health management. This is particularly relevant for conditions like gut health, where multiple genetic factors influence digestion, microbiome composition, and response to diet and supplements.
Review of SmartDNA Privacy & Data Security
SmartDNA operates under slightly different conditions than most direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies, because they require the use of a registered practitioner. This means that in most countries your data is considered part of your medical record and is protected by various laws for privacy. The company does not share raw genetic data with customers.
SmartDNA Reviews
Because SmartDNA operates primarily through practitioners, they have not been reviewed extensively online.
People on Facebook have a generally positive opinion about the company, rating it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Customers say that the reports are very detailed and helpful. One reviewer complained that they were not given the option to access their raw data as per company policy.
Alternatives to SmartDNA
For those seeking a more comprehensive and actionable approach to genetic health analysis, SelfDecode is a superior alternative. Unlike SmartDNA, which requires a certified practitioner to interpret a limited number of genes, SelfDecode provides users with advanced, ancestry-adjusted polygenic risk scores (PRS) and personalized recommendations directly.
SelfDecode’s reports analyze hundreds of thousands of genetic variants, integrating DNA, lab results, symptoms, and lifestyle factors to generate holistic, science-backed guidance on diet, supplements, exercise, and other lifestyle interventions. The platform also includes a daily-updated personalized genetics blog, making it the most comprehensive direct-to-consumer solution.
For health professionals, PromicsEdge offers clinical-grade predictive analytics and actionable recommendations, allowing practitioners to provide their patients with data-driven health insights. PromicsEdge leverages advanced AI and polygenic risk scoring models, making it ideal for professional use while maintaining strict privacy and HIPAA/GDPR compliance.
SelfDecode and PromicsEdge together provide a flexible approach. SelfDecode empowers consumers to take immediate, personalized action, while PromicsEdge equips health professionals with sophisticated tools to support patients with precision health strategies.
| Feature | SelfDecode/PromicsEdge | SmartDNA |
| 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 | Basic lifestyle and treatment suggestions per test |
| 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 |
| Practitioner Tools | Dedicated practitioner portals and decision support | Basic practitioner access |
| Customization | Dynamic recommendations updated with new data; white-label options | Static PDF report per panel |
SmartDNA Review Summary
SmartDNA offers DNA testing and requires you to work with a certified practitioner to go over your results. For the average person, the tests are very expensive. There are many companies that will provide nutritional advice based on your microbiome profile, and many of them are cheaper.
Plus, the reports only analyze a few limited number of genes in addition to the microbiome results, and it does not offer health recommendations directly to the customer. Instead, you’ll need to consult with your practitioner to understand what is your action plan.
An alternative such as SelfDecode provides you a more comprehensive option by analyzing all relevant genetic variants to generate science-backed and holistic health reports. SelfDecode analyzed 200M genetic variants to give you the full picture.
All of these genes can potentially impact your gut in a negative way, depending on the genetic variants that you carry. Fortunately, you can change the way your genes function by implementing the specific dietary, supplement, and lifestyle changes recommended by SelfDecode.
