Living DNA Review
Summary
Get a comprehensive DNA test with one of the most affordable kits on the market.
Living DNA is one of the world's largest Genomic testing services and offers accessible, competitively-priced DNA test kits. With a variety of kits, Living DNA makes it easy for you to learn more about yourself.
This review will compare the pros and cons of Living DNA — from examining its key features to uncovering any added costs to keep in mind — so that you can work out if Living DNA has the right kit for you.
About Living DNA
Headquartered in the UK, Living DNA has been making DNA testing more accessible since 2002. Customers have the option to choose between 3 types of tests: ancestry, wellbeing and a combination of the 2.
The brand's main goal is to provide accessible and actionable DNA-based research while maintaining the privacy and ease of understanding. Whether you're tracing your lineage or checking your DNA for hereditary illnesses, Living DNA is on hand to help.
How does testing with Living DNA work?
All you need to do is order a kit online via the website and follow the packaging's instructions when your kit arrives. You'll need to provide Living DNA with your DNA sample that is collected via a swab of your inner cheek.
Ship the sample back to the Living DNA lab and you'll receive your results in a further 6–8 weeks
Living DNA pricing
Living DNA's kits are priced as follows:
- Full Ancestry Kit ($139): This ancestry kit cross-matches your DNA with a wide range of regions. It also uses special DNA matching tools to identify distant relatives.
- Wellbeing Kit ($159): A kit that taps on your genetic traits to help you learn more about your health, wellness and medical predispositions.
- Wellbeing + Ancestry Kit ($229): A 2-in-1 kit that combines the benefits of ancestry tracing and an analysis of your wellbeing.
Please take note that shipping costs also apply. These vary depending on whether you select the standard or the express, tracked service.
We have 1 Living DNA promo codes available.
DNA kits from $139
Further 10% off with code
Up to 20% off wellbeing kit
30% off holiday sale
Up to 50% off & FREE shipping on 3 kits
50% off + Free shipping
What features are there in a Living DNA kit?
Living DNA offers a larger variety of helpful DNA testing features, including the following:
- Complimentary DNA testing guide. If you're not sure which testing service to purchase, you can use Living DNA's free 7-day Email Course to identify your DNA testing priorities and ensure that your testing kit gets you exactly the information that you want.
- Comprehensive ancestry profiling. By comparing the markers in your DNA with that of their genetic database, Living DNA identifies your ethnic composition and regional origin. It even offers interesting information tidbits, like how your ancestors might have migrated across the world over time. Besides this, you can trace specific paternal and maternal family lines using Y-DNA and MtDNA tests.
- Dietary profiling. With Living DNA's Wellbeing kit, you can find out how your DNA affects your nutrition and health. It examines 10 traits related to health and wellness. These traits include your ability to recover from an injury and the speed of your metabolism. Plus, if you suspect that you have gluten or lactose intolerance, a Living DNA kit could sniff that out for you.
- Intuitive results. Information is presented through an intuitive dashboard, with attractive visuals like pie charts and clean analytics.
- Find distant relatives. Once you've determined your genetic make-up, you can even use Living DNA's matching tool and opt into their Family Networks feature to connect with global users and find out how much DNA you share.
- External DNA upload. For those who've already used an external DNA service such as MyHeritage or Ancestry.com, Living DNA allows you to upload your existing test results to get a more comprehensive genetic profile.
- Optional ancestry book. Living DNA creates a coffee table book that traces your family history.
Pros and cons
- Affordable prices for comprehensive services
- Integration with third-party genetic test information
- Access to metabolic, dietary and fitness-related medical information
- Does not aggregate or sell your data
Cons
- Long wait times of up to 4 weeks for shipping
- Users outside of Europe may experience lower accuracy in results due to a smaller pool of gene data
- No free shipping options available
Is Living DNA right for me?
Should you choose Living DNA for your DNA test? Compare and consider the factors below before choosing a DNA testing kit.
- Price. Do Living DNA's tests fit into your budget?
- Features. Does Living DNA offer the features that you're interested in? Ultimately, you should only purchase a DNA testing kit if it directly meets the reason you're having a DNA test – whether it's to discover distant relatives or trace your family history.
- Level of analysis. How comprehensive are the test results offered? Do they answer the questions you had in mind?
- Tools for interpretation. While Living DNA offers understandable results displayed in pie charts, written reports and other visuals to help you understand your results, other brands offer family-tree building tools which may be more preferable. Ultimately, you should choose a provider that could present your results in the most intuitive way possible.
- Speed. How quickly can you get your test results?
Compare DNA Test Kits
- Get your DNA results in 6-8 weeks
- Over 350 regions analysed
- Learn about your family's health and origins
- Get your DNA results in 6-8 weeks
- Over 350 regions analysed
- Learn about your family's health and origins
Final thoughts
Living DNA offers ancestry and wellness kits to help you learn more about yourself and your heritage. While its results have a wait time of 6–8 weeks, it stands out as one of the most affordable testers on the market – especially considering the comprehensiveness of its results.
Customers also have the opportunity to buy Living DNA tests as a gift for friends and family members who are curious about genealogy. And, the more people who take a Living DNA test, the more accurate the results will be.
Ultimately, if you're looking for detailed DNA analyses, Living DNA could be a great overall choice for you.
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