Your genetics hold the key to understanding critical information about your health and facilitating precision medicine. A simple DNA test can reveal what diseases you’re predisposed to as well as which medications you might not respond well to.

Companies like Myriad Genetics aim to make such DNA tests more accessible to the general public. The platform caters to both healthcare providers and patients, offering genetic screening for several conditions, including cancer, anxiety, and inherited diseases.

Still, before investing in one of its tests, it’s worth analyzing what Myriad Genetics has to offer and whether the value of its services aligns with the cost. In this detailed Myriad Genetics review, our team of researchers will carefully evaluate the platform’s logistics and quality of analyses, as well as pricing and other service aspects.

Myriad Genetics: Key service and ordering process

Myriad Genetics, also called Myriad, is a health-oriented genetic testing service that can be accessed by healthcare providers and their patients. Its genetic tests mostly focus on detecting, treating, and preventing various disease risks.

The platform offers genetic screening services under four key categories:

1. Hereditary cancer risk assessment

2. Cancer treatment

3. Prenatal care

4. Mental health treatment

You will have to order different test kits based on the category of service you wish to avail.

Source: Myriad Genetics

Typically, your healthcare provider may order a test from Myriad on your behalf, but you can also do so yourself. Here’s what the process can look like from a patient’s perspective:

1. You register and fill out the testing request form — most forms require the name of your healthcare provider.

2. Alternatively, you can schedule a virtual pre-test consultation where a Myriad counselor will review your family history and other details to determine your eligibility for the screening.

3. Once the screening is confirmed, your provider may draw a small amount of blood as a sample or have you collect a saliva sample and send it to the Myriad lab.

4. Myriad reviews your results and provides you with personalized reports or referrals.

The turnaround varies depending on the type and breadth of the requested screening. For example, prenatal genetic tests typically arrive within two weeks. 

Bonus reads: Discover our reviews for other health-focused DNA testing services below:

• Rupa Health review

• Invitae review

• InsideTracker alternatives

• Sequencing.com vs. Nebula

Myriad Genetics review: Analyzing 6 key service aspects

To assess Myriad effectively, we must look at the service beyond its basic offering. We have analyzed the platform across six important criteria in the following sections:

1. Types of tests available

2. Quality and accuracy of analyses

3. Ease of interpretation

4. Pricing and insurance coverage

5. Data privacy and security

6. User ratings and reviews

1. Types of tests available

Myriad offers a limited set of genetic tests, mostly covering reproductive, urological, and mental health. A majority of its tests are oncology-focused, including the MyRisk® product that analyzes your risk for 11 types of hereditary cancer and the PreciseTumor® product that examines existing cancers to inform treatment plans. There are also tests targeting specific types of cancer, such as:

1. Prostate cancer

2. Breast cancer

3. Endocrine cancer

4. Gastric cancer

5. Skin cancer

Source: Myriad Genetics

Myriad’s cancer screening options are a decent choice if you’re looking for preventative care or personalized treatment plans. Still, the platform does not provide any specific test to detect genetic variants for rare cancers.

Other Myriad DNA tests include:

| Product    | Purpose                                                                                  |
| ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| SneakPeek® | Provides early gender predictions for expecting parents.                                 |
| Prequel®   | Detects various chromosomal conditions during prenatal screening.                        |
| GeneSight® | Predicts your response to certain psychotropic medications for mental health conditions. |
| Foresight® | Maps the presence of inheritable genetic variants

At the time of writing this, we did not see any tests focused on cardiovascular health or metabolic diseases like diabetes.

2. Quality and accuracy of analyses

Myriad’s laboratory is CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited, which means it abides by industry standards for processing quality. Its results are shaped by next-generation sequencing technology, which is more advanced than what commercial tests like 23andMe and AncestryDNA use, although the efficacy of analyses may vary among users.

For example, a few customers shared that they received false positives for certain conditions on the prenatal test, which can induce anxiety among expecting parents. In another case, a customer experienced adverse effects after relying on the analyses of their Myriad medication reaction test — here’s what they shared:

“... the results are not only unhelpful but dangerous. I had really bad reactions to their "safe" drugs and no interaction with some "unsafe" drugs.” 

It’s best to consult your physician if you’re concerned about the reliability of your Myriad genetic analyses.

Another downside is that Myriad doesn’t provide a comprehensive genetic health assessment. Each targeted screening is designed to read select disease-associated genes, not your entire genome, for the intended analysis. For example, the MyRisk® product only looks at 48 genes to assess your risk for 11 types of cancer, which is less than 1% of your genome. Myriad tests may not be effective in uncovering novel disease-causing variants or rare genetic disorders.

Tip 💡

If you want a comprehensive, all-in-one genetic health analysis, the ideal solution is to have your entire genome analyzed. That’s why you should consider testing with Nucleus, a DNA platform that makes advanced whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology accessible to people.

Nucleus WGS tests analyze almost 6 billion DNA bases, targeting even the rare and high-effect genetic differences most other tests overlook. You get complete genetic health screening at a single price point, which includes testing for different types of cancer, cardiovascular health, and mental health. Order your kit today!

[X](https://x.com/ddcaridi/status/1830031320946524274)

3. Ease of interpretation

Myriad Genetics reports come with actionable insights that anyone can understand, catering to both patients and providers. For cancer screening, your results may be categorized as:

• Positive

• Negative

• Elevated

The MyRisk report also includes a RiskScore of your five-year and remaining lifetime risk for developing breast cancer. In case of a positive result, the report may provide personalized guidance in the form of suggestions for increased surveillance, risk-reducing medications, and surgery.

Source: Myriad Genetics

For prenatal screening reports, the platform suggests discussing all “positives” with your healthcare provider. If you need clarification of your results or have questions about the best course of action, you can also seek a genetic counselor via Myriad for a separate fee.

4. Pricing and insurance coverage

The pricing of Myriad Genetics tests is not publicly available. You’ll need to request a test first to get an estimate. Still, its website contains contradicting information regarding when the estimate will be communicated to you. In some cases, you may get an estimate before the test is run, while sometimes, it’s after testing.

Myriad accepts insurance for tests and consultations, claiming to be in-network with 95% of commercial insurance plans. You may also apply for financial assistance, which can reduce the test cost to fit your budget, provided you’re a U.S. patient who meets medical, income, and insurance criteria.

Myriad claims that 90% of patients pay less than $100 for testing services because of insurance coverage. Virtual consultations cost an additional $129 per session, but insured patients pay around $50 on average.

We noted some complaints regarding limited transparency in Myriad’s billing practices. Customers have reported:

• Being denied insurance coverage after taking the test 

• Receiving higher-than-expected bills

• Receiving a bill after they’ve completed a payment over the phone

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/BabyBumps/comments/pw4ils/just_received_myriads_prenatal_bill_of_5k_im/)

It’s uncertain whether these were genuine errors on Myriad’s part and how many of these individuals received reimbursement at the end.

Bonus: Explore the pricing models of other DNA testing services below:

• Nebula Genomics review

• CRI Genetics vs. 23andMe

• SelfDecode review

• tellmeGen review

5. Data privacy and security

Myriad Genetics is HIPAA-compliant and claims to have developed robust security processes and controls to ensure the safety of patient data.

As far as advertising is concerned, the platform offers privacy choices to users across its three product sites: GeneSight.com, Myriad.com, and SneakPeekTest.com.

We did not see any history of security or privacy issues with the company.

6. User ratings and reviews

Myriad has been a popular genetic testing platform, especially for prenatal screening. Its service is typically quick, although many recent users have reported a delay in receiving their results.

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/pregnant/comments/16gd81p/comment/kkaozmq/)

Myriad has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, but customers rated it 1.81 on the website. You can also find a handful of customer complaints on Yelp, where it holds a rating of 1.3 (sourced October 2024). Most of the customer complaints revolve around testing accuracy, billing issues, and delayed turnaround. 

Many Myriad Genetics reviews also highlight weak customer support. Users claim that they waited too long for a response and that the representatives weren’t too helpful.

Here’s a table summarizing the pros and cons of Myriad Genetics:

| Pros                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Cons                                                                                                               |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| • Cancer, carrier status, and prenatal screening tests <br> • Easy-to-read, actionable reports <br> • Genetic counseling options <br> • Insurance coverage and financial assistance program <br> • HIPAA-compliant | • Occasional inaccuracy <br> • Customer service and billing issues <br> • The technology targets only specific genes

Myriad Genetics: Is the platform worth a try?

Myriad has a good selection of tests if you want to be screened for prenatal care and certain cancers. They can be suitable if you have a family history of disease and know what you’re looking for. However, the platform doesn’t test for rare genetic variants or analyze 100% of your DNA, so its limited scope and testing technology can be a major drawback for some users.

If you want a more comprehensive and accurate health analysis, go with whole-genome DNA testing platforms like Nucleus.

Nucleus offers an all-in-one health test, analyzing ~100% of your DNA to unlock broad insights such as:

• Various disease risks

• Hereditary carriers

• Genetic traits

• IQ analysis

| Differentiators                               | Nucleus                                                                                                                       | Myriad Genetics                           |
| --------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| DNA bases analyzed                            | 6 billion                                                                                                             | Varies                             |
| Target areas                                  | All-in-one health tests covering: <br> • Cancer <br> • Heart health <br> • Mental health <br> • Focus & energy <br> • Food & diet                          | Cancer, prenatal, mental health screening |
| Accuracy rate                                 | 99.90%                                                                                                                        | 99%                                      |
| Rare variants detected                        | ✔️                                                                                                                            | ✖️                                        |
| Trait reports                                 | ✔️                                                                                                                            | ✖️                                        |
| IQ analysis                                   | ✔️                                                                                                                            | ✖️                                        |
| DNA results integrated with lifestyle factors | ✔️                                                                                                                            | ✖️                                        |
| Genetic counseling                            | ✔️                                                                                                                            | ✔️                                        |
| Privacy and security regulation(s)            | • HIPAA <br> • CAP <br> • CLIA                                                                                                              | • HIPAA <br> • CAP <br>

Nucleus is designed to give you more agency over the health and lifestyle decisions for you and your family, and is the most affordable and accessible whole-genome platform in the U.S.

[X](https://x.com/melanter/status/1782094104068862183)

Nucleus: Affordable all-in-one genetic health screening

Nucleus is a clinical-grade and physician-approved whole-genome testing platform that helps you extract nearly ALL the data from your DNA. It's all-in-one test stands out by:

• Reporting for 170+ diseases and conditions, including:

  • Various cancers

  • Heart diseases

  • Neurological conditions

  • Mental health disorders like depression and schizophrenia

  • Autoimmune conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis

• Covering rare and high-effect variants that can cause or significantly increase your susceptibility to a condition (most DNA tests don’t look for rare variants).

• Integrating your lifestyle and non-genetic factors, such as smoking habits and BMI, to personalize your reports.

If you’re planning to expand your family, you can also learn whether you carry any inheritable conditions, as well as how your genes affect traits like allergies, intelligence, and height.

Source: Nucleus

Nucleus reports are easy to understand and come with clear data visualizations. The platform partners with board-certified counselors from SteadyMD to help you connect with genetic counselors who can give you advice on preventive care and treatments.

Invest in your future — Order Nucleus to get started

While most whole-genome tests will set you back by thousands of dollars, the Nucleus Premium test kit costs only $399 (HSA + FSA eligible).

The price includes all health and trait reports, including any new reports added to the platform. You can also opt to get updated reports based on the latest genetic research and your changing lifestyle factors. 

Nucleus uses cheek swab samples for processing, and your results will be available online within six to eight weeks. Here’s how to get started:

1. Sign up

2. Provide your personal information

3. Place your order

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We have many other reviews of popular DNA testing services that you can browse below:

|                                                                              |                                                                                  |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Ancestry vs. 23andMe](https://mynucleus.com/blog/ancestry-vs-23andme)       | [Ancestry.com alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/ancestrycom-alternatives) |
| [Sequencing.com review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/sequencingcom-review)     | [MyHeritage review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/myheritage-review)                |
| [MyHeritage vs. Ancestry](https://mynucleus.com/blog/myheritage-vs-ancestry) | [MyHeritage vs. 23andMe](https://mynucleus.com/blog/myheritage-vs-23andme)       |
| [InsideTracker review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/insidetracker-review)      | [PacBio vs. Illumina](https://mynucleus.com/blog/pacbio-vs-illumina)             |
| [23andMe alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/23andme-alternatives)      | [Illumina vs. Sanger](https://mynucleus.com/blog/illumina-sequencing-vs-sanger)  |

Featured image source: Edward Jenner