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Private genetic testing in London, interpreted by a clinical geneticist.

Genetic testing done properly - with clinical counselling before and after, results interpreted by a consultant geneticist, and a plan for you and your relatives. Not a mail-order swab.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private genetic testing costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers and accredited genetics laboratories.

In short

£400–£900, results in 3–6 weeks, always with counselling included.

Test or panel Indicative range
Genetic counselling only (pre or post-test) £300–£650
BRCA1 / BRCA2 test (blood) £400–£900
Hereditary cancer panel (BRCA + Lynch + more) £700–£1,400
Cardiovascular / cardiomyopathy panel £700–£1,500
Carrier screening (pre-conception) £400–£900
Whole-exome / whole-genome sequencing Quoted case by case

Prices vary by laboratory, how many genes are covered, whether sequencing is targeted or exome/genome wide, and the depth of counselling required.

The problem

Genetics isn’t a lifestyle choice.

A DNA result changes how you and your relatives think about your health for the rest of your life. It deserves a proper conversation before you decide to test, and a proper conversation once the result comes back.

  • You’re thinking about a family

    Pre-conception carrier screening and counselling, tailored to your background and family history - not a generic panel.

When to test

Indication-led - not curiosity-led.

These are the reasons people seek a proper clinical genetic test - as opposed to a novelty ancestry kit.

  • BRCA testing

    Family history of breast, ovarian, prostate or pancreatic cancer, or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

  • Hereditary cancer panels

    Lynch syndrome, familial polyposis and broader multi-gene panels where several cancers run in the family.

  • Pre-conception carrier screening

    Understand the chance of passing a recessive condition to your children before you try to conceive.

  • Inherited cardiac conditions

    Cardiomyopathy, long-QT and channelopathies - especially after a family sudden cardiac event.

  • Pharmacogenomics

    How you metabolise specific drugs - useful in psychiatry, oncology and pain medicine.

  • Building a family history

    A proper three-generation pedigree is drawn up before deciding whether testing is even indicated.

  • Pre-conception counselling

    Consanguinity, known family variants, or a previous affected pregnancy - assessed by a clinical geneticist.

  • Consumer test result review

    Do not act on a 23andMe or Ancestry raw-data result medically.

Test types

What each option is actually for - and when a smaller, targeted test is the better answer.

  • Single-gene test

    Targeted BRCA1/2 or a specific familial variant already identified in a relative.

  • Hereditary cancer panel

    Multi-gene panels covering BRCA, Lynch, PALB2, ATM and related cancer-predisposition genes.

  • Cardiovascular panel

    Cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia and aortopathy genes - often after a family cardiac event.

  • Carrier screening

    Recessive conditions relevant before pregnancy, singly or as an expanded panel.

  • Pharmacogenomics

    Metabolism genes affecting antidepressants, opioids, statins and chemotherapy dosing.

  • Whole-exome sequencing

    The protein-coding regions - used for undiagnosed inherited disease.

  • Whole-genome sequencing

    Coding and non-coding regions - highest coverage, longest turnaround, quoted case by case.

  • Consumer-test review

    Formal clinical interpretation of a 23andMe or Ancestry report, with confirmatory testing where needed.

What to know before you test

The sample is easy. The implications are not.

A blood draw is one of the safest tests in medicine. It’s the aftermath - for you, your children, your relatives - that deserves the real preparation.

  • Pre-test counselling is not optional

    A genetic result has implications for you and for your blood relatives. A proper conversation should happen before any sample is taken.

  • Insurance and life cover

    Under the current UK Code on Genetic Testing and Insurance, insurers do not ask about most predictive genetic tests - but disclosure rules apply for very large life-cover policies. Check what applies to you.

  • Children and adult-onset conditions

    Testing children for adult-onset conditions is generally not done - the child should decide as an adult. UK clinical genetics guidance applies.

  • Variants of unknown significance

    VUS results are common and can cause real anxiety. It is important to understand what a VUS is, and what not to do about one.

  • Cascade testing in relatives

    A positive result triggers an offer of testing to first-degree relatives. That conversation and referral should be supported.

  • Direct-to-consumer results

    23andMe and Ancestry raw data should not drive medical decisions on their own.

  • Safeguarding and consent

    For any test involving a child or a person lacking capacity, consent and safeguarding are handled formally.

  • Data privacy and storage

    Ask where your data is stored, for how long, and whether it can be used for research.

Reading your report

A genetics report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

Whether it’s a single-gene test or a whole-genome sequence, the report follows the same four parts.

A UK consultant clinical geneticist reviewing a variant classification report

A quiet reminder

A variant of unknown significance is not a diagnosis - and often not something to act on.

Ask your clinician to talk you through the report before your follow-up.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and reason for testing

    Your details, the family history that prompted testing, and the specific question being asked of the lab.

  2. 02 Technique

    Which panel and how it was sequenced

    The genes covered, sequencing method, coverage depth and any limitations - this is why two labs can give slightly different answers.

  3. 03 Findings

    Variants classified to ACMG standards

    Each reportable variant is classified - pathogenic, likely pathogenic, variant of unknown significance, likely benign or benign.

  4. 04 Impression

    The clinical meaning: read this first

    What the result means for you, what it means for your relatives, and the surveillance or cascade-testing plan.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about genetic testing.

Quick answers on cost, referral, BRCA, children, insurance, consumer tests and pre-conception screening.

  • What do genetic tests actually look at?

    They look at the DNA sequence of specific genes - or, in the case of whole-exome or whole-genome tests, at all of your protein-coding or entire genomic sequence - to find variants that change how those genes work. Reports classify each variant as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, variant of unknown significance, likely benign or benign.

  • How much does private genetic testing cost in London?

    Genetic counselling alone is typically £300–£650. A BRCA1/2 test is £400–£900, a hereditary cancer panel £700–£1,400, and whole-genome sequencing is quoted case by case.

  • Do I need a referral?

    Self-referral is the usual private route, provided you agree to pre-test counselling with a consultant clinical geneticist or a registered genetic counsellor. Some tests are only appropriate after that conversation.

  • What does a BRCA result actually mean for my cancer risk?

    A pathogenic BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant meaningfully increases lifetime risk of breast, ovarian and some other cancers - but it is a risk, not a certainty. The actual numbers, the surveillance options, and the risk-reducing options should be explained in plain language.

  • Can I test my child?

    Testing children for adult-onset conditions is generally not offered - the accepted principle is that the child should decide as an adult. Tests for conditions that present in childhood, or where prevention starts in childhood, are handled case by case.

  • Will a genetic test affect my insurance?

    Under the current UK Code on Genetic Testing and Insurance, insurers do not ask about the results of most predictive genetic tests. Disclosure rules apply for life cover above very high thresholds, and for a small number of specific tests. Check what applies before you test.

  • I have a 23andMe or Ancestry report - is that enough?

    No. Consumer test raw data should not be used to make medical decisions on its own.

  • Should we do carrier screening before trying for a baby?

    It is a reasonable option, particularly if there is a family history, consanguinity, or a relevant ancestral background. It matters to understand what the panel covers and - just as importantly - what it does not.

  • Whole-genome sequencing or a targeted panel?

    For a specific familial variant, a targeted single-gene test is usually the right answer. For undiagnosed inherited disease, or complex family histories, exome or genome sequencing may be indicated. A clinical geneticist decides - it is not simply "the biggest test wins".

  • When should I see a specialist urgently?

    A known pathogenic variant in a close relative, a new personal cancer diagnosis with a strong family history, or a family sudden cardiac death - these warrant urgent referral. These cases should be fast-tracked.

Related tests

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

Why private genetic testing moves differently in London

With genetic testing, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for genetic testing is thorough, but the queue is real. Many patients are told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days - often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.

Once you’re in the private system for genetic testing, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different. For genetic testing specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

Fit matters more than people expect. For genetic testing, the right consultant depends on what you actually need - a second opinion, a definitive diagnosis, a bridge into treatment, or reassurance that nothing’s being missed. If a test isn’t the right next step, a good clinician will say so before you book anything.