Genetic Methylation Test
What is methylation, and why test it?
Methylation is a chemical process your body runs billions of times a second — attaching methyl groups to molecules in order to switch genes on and off, build neurotransmitters, process hormones, clear toxins and recycle homocysteine.
Variants in the genes running that pathway — MTHFR among them — affect how efficiently it works. That efficiency influences how well you use folate and B12, how you clear oestrogen, and how your body handles the by-products of its own metabolism.
Testing it is a one-time exercise: the variants don't change. What changes is what you do about them — which forms of B vitamins suit you, what your body needs more support with, and what's worth monitoring in your bloods.
This describes how your pathway is built, not a diagnosis. Methylation variants are common, and carrying one is not a condition.
What your results look like
Your results arrive in the i-screen dashboard as a personalised report, not a raw data file.
- Organised by pathway function - detoxification, hormone clearance, energy production, neurotransmitter balance - rather than by gene name.
- Each variant explained in plain terms - what the gene does, which version you carry, and what it means in practice.
- Interpreted here - your results are reviewed by our own molecular biologists, data scientists and clinicians before the report is issued.
View a sample report here.
What's included
Methylation is how your body passes small chemical tags called methyl groups onto other molecules. It's part of how you recycle homocysteine, make creatine and phosphatidylcholine, and break down dopamine and oestrogen. This profile summarises how the variants you carry are likely to affect that pathway, and which nutrients it relies on most. It's a map of tendencies, not a diagnosis.
This test reads 11 variants across 8 genes that run the methylation cycle: MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, MTHFD1, CBS, AHCY, PEMT and COMT. These variants are common, and most people carry at least one. Your report shows which version of each you carry and what it means for folate, B12, B6 and choline.
MTHFR, MTR, MTRR and CBS all affect how your body clears homocysteine. Some combinations, particularly two copies of MTHFR C677T, are linked to higher homocysteine levels, mostly when folate intake is low. A raised level is associated with cardiovascular risk, but your genes alone don't tell you your level. A homocysteine blood test does.
Homocysteine and the B vitamins that clear it have been studied in relation to brain ageing. Your report shows whether your variants make it harder to keep homocysteine low, which is useful context for how you approach folate, B12 and B6. It doesn't predict memory or cognitive outcomes.
COMT breaks down dopamine and noradrenaline, and the V158M variant changes how quickly it works. Slower and faster versions are both common and are linked to differences in how people respond to stress. Your report explains which version you carry. It isn't a measure of mood or mental health.
COMT affects how quickly stimulating neurotransmitters are cleared, which some people notice as sensitivity to stress or caffeine late in the day. Your report notes your COMT result in this context. Sleep is shaped far more by routine, light and stress than by any single gene.
Your methylation variants influence which nutrients the pathway leans on most: folate (MTHFR, MTHFD1) B12 (MTR, MTRR) B6 (CBS) choline (PEMT) Your report translates this into practical food and nutrient considerations. These include whether folate-rich foods or particular vitamin forms are worth discussing with your practitioner.
A large share of the body's methylation capacity goes into making creatine and phosphatidylcholine, which support muscle energy and cell membranes. Methylation also helps the liver process compounds such as catechol oestrogens through COMT. Your report shows where your variants may put extra demand on these steps.
COMT helps clear oestrogen metabolites, and MTHFR affects how you use folate. That's why folate is often discussed with a doctor when planning a pregnancy. Your report shows your result for both. It doesn't assess fertility or diagnose any hormonal condition.
Homocysteine is the main link between methylation genes and inflammation. Elevated levels are associated with inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Your report shows whether your variants make homocysteine harder to clear. Pairing it with a homocysteine blood test tells you where you actually are.
Test instructions
Your cheek swab test kit and all instructions are posted directly to you.
Mail your sample(s) back to the lab using the prepaid envelope and packaging provided.
Results for this test typically available in 2 weeks and will be published in your online dashboard.
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Common Questions
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