At-home genetic testing is now affordable, accessible, and wildly popular. With its claims of accuracy, easy access to physicians, and focus on health risks, Color Health’s genetic testing service stands out.
Color provides genetic sequencing and analysis with a focus on “meaningful health insights,” like hereditary health risks of cancer and heart disease, according to the company.
Color’s website claims that their $249 clinical-grade DNA test has historically cost thousands of dollars. With this test, you’ll collect a saliva sample and then mail it to Color. Once a doctor reviews the sample, your DNA will be sequenced and analyzed.
Within a few weeks, you’ll receive a report with your results. This detailed report will inform you of your potential risks of hereditary cancer, hereditary heart disease, and if you have certain medication response genes.
Screening for genetic cancer risk is one of the main parts of Color’s service. According to research from
Color’s website breaks down three types of cancer:
- Hereditary cancer: caused by a genetic mutation; typically seen across two or three family generations and diagnosed in patients at a much younger age than other types of cancer
- Familial cancer: appears frequently enough in families that it’s likely not due to random chance; while no genetic mutation has been identified yet, there may be an undiscovered hereditary component
- Sporadic cancer: caused by spontaneous genetic mutations and can’t be explained by a single factor
You’ll also learn about your potential risk of hereditary heart disease, and be tested for your genetic response to certain Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications.
Read on to learn about more benefits, such as Color’s free genetic counseling and ongoing support for any future health changes.
Pros
- more affordable than traditional genetic testing
- access to genetic counselors
- continuing support after you receive your results
- some tests may be covered by insurance
Cons
- limited testing options
- to receive insurance coverage, a doctor needs to order the tests
Color genetic testing is a good option for people who want to know more about their genetic background and how it might affect their health. The testing can’t diagnose any conditions, but it can help you figure out if you’re predisposed to certain things, such as heart disease or certain types of cancer.
Keep in mind, though, that just because you have a predisposition doesn’t mean you’ll automatically develop a specific condition or disease.
Knowing more about your genetic background can be especially helpful if you aren’t very familiar with your family’s medical history.
Color Extended Testing Kit
Price: $249 (+$9.95 shipping and handling, +$15 fee if you use Color Health’s doctor)
This kit is designed to assess your risk of hereditary cancer and hereditary heart health, and how your genes may affect your response to medication.
The hereditary cancer test looks at 30 different genes to assess your potential risk for hereditary cancer, including the genes associated with breast cancer — BRCA1 and BRCA2. The test also assesses risk for the following hereditary cancers:
The hereditary heart health test looks at 30 genes that may affect your risk for developing heart conditions such as cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias.
Finally, the medication response test looks at 14 genes that may be associated with how the body responds to common prescription medications.
It takes about 3 to 5 business days for a testing kit to arrive in the mail. You must return the kit to a USPS mailbox within 24 hours of sample collection.
The purchase also comes with a complimentary genetic counseling session.
- Purchase the Extended Testing Kit from Color’s website.
- Color then mails you the kit. You’ll give a saliva sample in the provided container (meaning, you spit into a tube). To help you salivate, Color recommends thinking of lemons.
- Mail back the saliva sample.
- A doctor reviews the sample and will contact you with follow-up questions, if necessary. If you don’t already have a doctor’s order, this doctor can approve this test for you.
- In a few weeks, you’ll get your results in PDF form. This includes your genetic analysis — including your risk of certain cancers and heart disease, as well as how these results affect your family — information about genes that affect your medication response and recommended personal health screening guidelines.
- Once you have your results, you’ll gain access to phone consultations with a genetic counselor. Color’s genetic counselors will explain your report, answer questions, and discuss how your results could affect your family. There’s no extra cost for these calls.
- As new research and findings are published, you’ll receive updated results based on the saliva sample you sent in. If and when you or family members have health changes, you can update your Color profile to reflect this. This will trigger another review of your results by one of Color’s independent doctors.
Color Health claims their clinical tests are scientifically validated as more than 99% accurate. The company has been awarded more than 10 United States patents for their technology.
In addition, the World Economic Forum — a Geneva-based “independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, cultural, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas” — has recognized Color Health as a leader in clinical testing.
Amazon reviews for Color’s genetic test kit are mostly positive, with an average 4.6 star rating. Some customer reviews talk about receiving quick results and say that the service was well worth the cost.
The brand is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating. Color has received two complaints overall and has responded to both. Both complaints have to do with the brand’s COVID-19 test.
The results you’re looking for
“Recreational” DNA tests like 23andMe cost less, but offer less sophisticated testing. If your motivation is finding family members — or simply the novelty of testing your DNA — you might prefer a recreational test. If you’re more interested in health risks for you and your family, Color is probably a better choice for you.
How this will affect your family
For better or worse, not everyone wants to know about their health risks. If some of your family members live by the “ignorance is bliss” mantra, they might not want to know these results. You are, of course, entitled to learn about your own DNA, but be mindful of how this information could affect your relatives.
Consider asking ahead of time if they want to hear results, or keep your test to yourself if you’re worried about their reaction.
You’ll need a doctor’s order
It’s less complicated than it sounds! You don’t actually need an order from your own doctor. You can submit a saliva sample, and Color will connect you with a doctor from an independent network of physicians. This doctor will reach out with questions if necessary and can submit the order for you.
You’ll also learn ‘fun stuff’
The Color Discovery service provides results about genes that don’t contribute to life threatening conditions but are certainly interesting. This includes your earwax type, if you have an alcohol flush response, lactose intolerance, and cilantro preference.
Note that these results are based on still-developing science, are not definitive, and shouldn’t inform medical decisions. Color also notes that the Color Discovery service is less accurate for certain ethnicities and genetic ancestries. The company doesn’t specify which ethnicities, though.
Where you live
Color Health’s genetic testing is available for customers all over the world. However, the Color Discovery service described above is currently only available to U.S. residents.
| Product | Pricing | Genetic counseling included? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | $249 for extended | yes | finding out genetic risks for various conditions |
| 23andMe | $199 for Health + Ancestry | no | family tree building and genetic health information |
| Cytokinetics | depends on provider | depends on provider | testing for heart and neuromuscular disease risks |
| Myriad | depends on provider | yes | providers looking to test patients for cancer biomarkers |
What are the three types of genetic testing?
There are three forms of genetic testing available including:
- molecular testing
- chromosomal testing
- gene expression tests
What does Color genetic testing test for?
The brand tests for hereditary cancer and heart disease risks, along with gene-influenced medication response.
Is genetic testing covered by insurance?
Your private insurance plan may cover genetic testing. Typically, a doctor will need to order the test for it to be eligible for coverage. You can contact your insurer before buying to confirm the details of your coverage.
Color is an impressive DNA sequencing service. For $249, you’ll learn your potential heart disease and cancer risks, find out if you may respond differently to certain medications, and learn some fun facts about your genes. The science is backed by clinical testing, a doctor reviews your results, and the price includes one-on-one genetic counseling.