FAQ

The importance of preventative healthcare can’t be overstated, and the saying “you get what you pay for” has never been more true. Many chronic illnesses — including heart disease and Type 2 diabetes — can be side-stepped through early intervention and informed lifestyle choices. It’s not just about avoiding illness, it’s about living better, longer, and with greater vitality. Our reports screen 800,000 SNPs and cover markers most ancestry-led DNA tests don’t include. Although our DNA tests cost more, the team behind the swab includes a registered nutritional therapist and a Nutrigenomic Specialist, each with decades of experience in nutrition. They use state-of-the-art technology to analyse and interpret your unique genetic code so you walk away with lifelong, actionable health insights.

Once we receive your sample at the lab, your personalised report is ready within 6 weeks. The timeframe reflects the comprehensive nature of our screening process. We’ll email you the moment your report is ready.

Once collected and sealed in the provided kit, your swab remains stable and viable for analysis for up to 6 months at room temperature. For the most accurate results, send your sample to our lab as soon as possible after collection.

Yes. We take great care in handling and processing your sample, but if it’s misplaced — either before or after we receive it — we’ll send you a new sample kit at no additional cost.

You’ll receive your personalised report as a password-protected PDF, delivered directly to your email. If you have any trouble accessing it or any questions once it arrives, our team is always here to help.

No. Your report is not a medical diagnosis. We focus on genes and SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) linked to areas you can positively influence through diet, lifestyle and wellness choices. We do not test or report on genetic diseases or medical conditions.

Yes — you’re welcome to share your report with your doctor. The report is designed to give you valuable insights into your genetic predispositions, lifestyle factors and wellness opportunities. Many healthcare providers find this information useful as part of a broader conversation about your health, although doctors will always rely on their own clinical expertise and any additional medical testing or history when making formal medical decisions.

Every cell in your body contains DNA — the unique genetic code you inherited from your parents and ancestors. Think of your DNA as your body’s instruction manual: it guides how your body works and what makes you uniquely you. Our test looks at specific sections of your DNA to identify variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These small differences influence how your body responds to nutrients, exercise and environmental factors. Your DNA itself doesn’t change, but your diet and lifestyle choices can support your genes and help them function at their best.

YOLO Health helps you understand how your unique genetic makeup influences your wellbeing. We translate that into personalised insights — practical changes to diet and lifestyle that better support your genes — so you can make informed choices for your long-term health.

All insights and recommendations are evidence-based, backed by scientific research (which you can explore in the app if you’d like). We only report on well-researched genetic variations, and all advice is created by qualified nutrition professionals with clinical experience. Note: our advice is for wellness purposes only and isn’t intended to diagnose or replace medical advice from your healthcare provider.

Your sample is identified only by a unique barcode — no personal information is shared with our partner laboratories. Our laboratories share data only with YOLO Health, and your physical DNA sample is destroyed after analysis. YOLO Health does not share your data, results or reports with any third party unless you explicitly request it. You can request a copy of your raw data at any time, and you can request deletion of your account and all associated data whenever you want.

YOLO DNA test kits are not ancestral DNA tests. Ancestral DNA testing helps you trace your genetic roots and discover where your ancestors came from. Although insightful, that’s a different category. YOLO’s tests are designed to highlight your unique bodily functions and how to enhance your health with actionable lifestyle choices — we are not an ancestry-based DNA testing company.

Yes. While a child’s SNPs can be a little harder to detect than an adult’s, they’re still identified during lab analysis — children tend to have more saliva in their mouths, and DNA testing requires cheek cells (so we instruct customers to sweep the inner cheeks well). The general fussiness of younger children can make collecting cheek cells trickier, but parents typically succeed. We recommend testing your child’s inherited lifestyle genes from age 5 to set them up for a lifetime of optimal health.

This is rare. The purpose of your swab is not to collect saliva, but to gather inner cheek cells for proper analysis of your gene markers. If, for any reason, the lab can’t detect enough cheek cells to complete the analysis, we’ll send you a fresh kit so you can repeat the process. Read the instructions carefully before taking the test — knowing what to do (and what not to do) keeps the process simple.

Your DNA report is comprehensive, insightful and empowering. A sample report is featured on our website (have a look — it’s free). You can expect sections covering your digestion and the genes associated with it; your immune system; the nutrients your body needs (and doesn’t need); your metabolism; your body’s ability to handle stress; the best exercise approach for your genes; why you sleep the way you do; and which stimulants — caffeine and alcohol — to be cautious with. The report is written in plain English, so you’ll get a clear picture of what’s going on in your body as you read through your personalised lifestyle “prescription”.