Parameters | LivingDNA | Xcode Life |
Type of genetic testing | DNA kit and raw data analysis | DNA raw data analysis |
Ancestry reports | Offered | Not offered |
Health reports | Not offered | Offered |
Pharmacogenomic reports | Not offered | Offered |
Raw data upload | AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, FTDNA, Illumina, Gene by Gene, and National Geographic. | DNA raw data from all major providers accepted. Comprehensive list |
Number of reports | 3 | 13 |
Price | With DNA kits: $99-$169 | Reports: $10-$40Bundles: $49-$99Price details |
Free tools | Not available | 3 free tools (Gene Tool, DNA raw data merge, DNA raw data convert) available for all |
Sample reports | Not available | Available as detailed report walkthrough videos |
Living DNA, a UK- based genetic company, was founded by husband-wife duo David Nicholson and Hannah Morden in 2002. The company initiated the One Family World Project in 2017, aimed at eliminating racism with a global family tree. The company offers ancestry and wellbeing reports and strives to be the first to map and describe a global family tree.
Living DNA offers a range of genetic testing products:
This kit provides insights into fitness and nutrient traits. In addition, users will receive personalized diet and fitness recommendations based on their genetic results. This kit covers the following categories:
Source: LivingDNA website
This kit provides information on deep ethnic ancestry. It offers access to ancestry reports across 150 regions & sub-regions, including a global family ancestry report going back to around 500 years. This kit covers the following categories:
Source: Living DNA website
This kit is a package of both an ancestry test and a wellbeing test.
Apart from this, Living DNA offers a free 7-day email course. This course will help you understand the relevance of DNA and the DNA testing process.
Source: LivingDNA website
Living DNA ships their autosomal DNA testing kits all over the world. You can order the kit online. The DNA kit is a cheek swab kit.
Once you register with LivingDNA, you'll be provided with the following options:
This option requires you to fill in some personal details before uploading your DNA file. Living DNA accepts DNA files from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, Illumina, Gene by Gene, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage.
You can check out our DNA raw data download guides here:
How To Download Your Raw Data From FTDNA
How To Download Your Raw Data From AncestryDNA
How To Download Your Raw Data From 23andMe
How To Download Raw Data From MyHeritage DNA
Choosing this option allows you to enter an activation code provided with your DNA testing kit.
If you do not already have a DNA file, the company offers DNA testing services by purchasing a swab kit.
Living DNA also allows users to opt for the Family Network feature, which is a free service that matches users to relatives around the globe. One can opt into or out of this feature at any time through the Relatives tab on the profile.
Source: LivingDNA website
Once these steps are complete, your kit is active for use, and you can access Living DNA's services.
The dashboard containing profile information allows users to navigate through the following:
Living DNA takes around 72 hours to process DNA uploads and up to 8 weeks to send the DNA samples to the lab for testing. Users will be notified via email when the results are ready.
Living DNA offers detailed ancestry reports, covering an ancestral range from 80,000 years ago until recent times.
Image: Subregions
This report enables users to make better lifestyle choices to optimize their wellbeing and improve their quality of life with dietary and exercise changes based on their genetic makeup.
The Wellbeing Report focuses on the following:
Users will learn how their body responds to and metabolizes different vitamins
The report includes personalized nutritional dietary recommendations
The report suggests the best type of exercise for the user based on their genetic makeup
Users will receive insights into how their body processes different foods
The report provides personalized fitness routines and advice based on your genetic profile and lifestyle
Users will receive recommendations for the best way to relax and recover after a workout.
Image: Wellbeing report overview
Living DNA price points range from $99 to $199, exclusive of shipping. The shipping charges are between $49 and $99 within the US based on the region.
The costs of purchasing kits on Living DNA are as follows:
Apart from these, you can purchase the following from the store:
Living DNA claims that they are committed to user privacy and handle your data with integrity.
The company only collects and stores user information to improve the quality of its services. Personal information includes name, email, card details, and user activity.
Genetic information is stored separately from personal details. Confidentiality is maintained by labeling DNA samples with random barcodes, identifiable only to help with customer queries.
The company takes measures to ensure user security. It stores DNA samples securely and also gives users the option to delete their data at any point.
Living DNA does not sell user data to any third parties. Users can consent to research and opt-out of it at any time. However, we use aggregated data to improve the quality of our systems.
For further information, read the Living DNA privacy policy.
Living DNA co-founders Hannah and David opened the RootsTech 2018 conference with a presentation as platinum sponsors.
Living DNA launched affordable genealogy and wellbeing DNA kits at the lowest retail price point.
Living DNA made an impressive entry into the DNA testing kit market and a solid choice as a 3-in-1 DNA testing kit.
Living DNA reviews by TechRadar states that the kits are expensive and ancestry results are vague.
Trustpilot reviews on Living DNA show that 30% of 171 customers voted it to be excellent while 44% voted it bad.
You can find few Living DNA reviews on Reddit
Parameter | SelfDecode | Xcode Life |
Type of genetic testing | DNA kit and raw data analysis | DNA raw data analysis |
Health reports | Offered | Offered |
Pharmacogenomic reports | Not offered | Offered |
Raw data upload | 23andMe, Ancestry, Courtagen, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, Atlas, MapMyGenome, Diagnomics, DNALand, and LivingDNA | DNA raw data from all major providers accepted. Comprehensive list |
Number of traits | 33 | 2000+ |
Price | With DNA kits: $284 - $689 | Reports: $10-$40Bundles: $49-$99 Price details |
Free tools | Not available | 3 free tools (Gene Tool, DNA raw data merge, DNA raw data convert) Available for all |
Sample reports | Not available | Available as detailed report walkthrough videos |
SelfDecode was founded in 2014 by Joe Cohen with its headquarters at Newport Beach, California, US. The company offers personalized DNA testing and provides health and wellness reports by analyzing your genetic data.
Selfdecode also has some tools to analyze your genome and a personalized genetics blog that helps you understand your DNA results.
The company's most attractive offering would be its DNA Wellness Reports. These reports:
The wellness package includes the following reports:
Source: https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sd-genereports-launchjul2018/Sample+report.pdf
SelfDecode has a Personalized Genetics Blog, which the company claims to be the first and only one of its kind. The features that make this service unique are:
For more information, consumers can watch the SelfDecode Blog walkthrough video.
SelfDecode offers the Symptoms and Conditions Analyzer tool where the consumer can search for anything - any symptoms or conditions.
For example, upon searching for symptoms like brain fog and fatigue, the search results will find the consumer's risk variants from their DNA data and outline the gene influencing these symptoms.
However, this tool isn't available for free.
Check out Xcode Life's FREE Gene Tool To Explore Your DNA Raw data for various genes, conditions, SNPs, and symptoms!
SelfDecode's Lab Test Analyzer Tool is an independent subsidiary that consumers can access with or without using SelfDecode's genetic services. Consumers can sign up for Lab Test Analyzer to avail its facilities. Signup in either SelfDecode or Lab Test Analyzer lets the consumer use the other service free of cost.
The Lab Test Analyzer unlocks and reveals critical information by analyzing lab test results:
The tool analyzes over 500+ lab markers, with more being added regularly.
The tool also analyzed Health Goals information hidden in the lab results:
Lab Analyzer Pricing
Plan | Pricing |
Annual | $97 |
Lifetime | $297 |
Professional | Yearly - $599Monthly - $199 |
SelfDecode ships its DNA test kits worldwide.
Consumers can order the test kit online. The DNA test sample is a simple cheek swab.
SelfDecode has no provision for free signups and free reports.
Consumers have to sign up for one of the plans offered by the company. Upon successful payment and eventual signup, consumers will be given two options:
This requires the consumer to provide some personal information before uploading DNA raw data.
SelfDecode accepts raw DNA data files from 23andMe, Ancestry, Courtagen, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, Atlas, MapMyGenome, Diagnomics, DNALand, and LivingDNA (among others). They also support whole-genome sequenced files from Dante labs.
You can check out our DNA raw data download guides here:How To Download Your Raw Data From FTDNAHow To Download Your Raw Data From AncestryDNAHow To Download Your Raw Data From 23andMeHow To Download Raw Data From MyHeritage DNA |
Registering the DNA test kit
This requires the user to enter the barcode on the kit, name, ethnicity, sex, and birth year to successfully register your kit.
Once successfully registered, your DNA test kit is ready to use, and you can avail of the company's services.
Test results usually take six to eight weeks, by which time you can log in and access your results. Further, you can also access SelfDecode Insights and DNA Wellness Reports depending on your plan type.
The SelfDecode DNA test kit comes for $90.
For mere signup, the company requires the user to get a subscription:
Annual subscription plan - $194 excl. DNA test kit price
This plan only includes five premium DNA Wellness reports/year, whereas an additional charge at a 50% discount is applicable to access other reports.
The plan comes with a provision to cancel anytime.
Lifetime Access Plan - $599 excl. DNA test kit price
This plan includes access to all current and future DNA Wellness Reports.
SelfDecode offers exclusive services and plans if the user is a professional.
According to SelfDecode’s website, the Pro membership gives practitioners:
SelfDecode claims to be committed to its service to the community and complies with its Terms of Service.
SelfDecode collects personal information such as name, address, email address, phone number, and credit card or payment information upon account creation. Additionally, the company also asks for the demographic data of the user.
SelfDecode uses the information it collects to improve its services and develop better and new services.
SelfDecodes's Platform Consent lists terms of consumer consent which the company uses to store the genetic information uploaded and provide SelfDecode Insights.
Upon account closure, SelfDecode retains some account information on purchases and keeps backup and archival copies of information files following state or legal obligations or regulatory requirements.
For more information, please read SelfDecode's privacy policy.
Trustpilot reviews on SelfDecode show that 85% of 160 customers voted it excellent while 5% voted it bad. SelfDecode has a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot.
On dnatestingchoice, SelfDecode was ranked 13th out of 109 companies in the Health Testing sector.