Histamine Genetic Test

Three to four weeks. The kit arrives in 1-2 days (UK) or 2-5 days (EU & US). When your cheek swab sample is returned to the lab with the pre-paid postage, lab processing takes 2-3 weeks. Your walkthrough call booking invitation follows shortly after. So, you receive the report and consultation within 3-4 weeks of your order.

No, the next you'll hear after posting your cheek swab sample is your booking invitation, about 2-3 weeks later. This is normal, your sample is not lost. You will receive some light, nutrigenomics content via email in the holding period. When your results arrive, you'll be fully up to speed.

Detailed step-by-step instructions come with your kit. If you'd like extra guidance, our written guide and short video walk through every step:

• Sample instructions (PDF)
• Sample collection video

It fails due to two reasons. Either the mouth swab hasn't been done properly, or the return storage instructions haven't been followed. It's important to follow all steps correctly.

Taking your test

Your test is a simple cheek swab. It's non-invasive, takes minutes, and can be done at any time of day.

Before you swab:

• Don't eat, drink or smoke for at least 1 hour beforehand
• Swab thoroughly, as insufficient DNA is the main reason samples fail lab standards

Returning your sample:

1. Place your swab in the tube with the stabilising capsule. Include the capsule whole, don't open it
2. Complete and sign the consent form (write Tolerance under 'practitioner')
3. Pop both in the prepaid return envelope and drop it in any post box (UK returns are free)

No special storage or transport requirements. Return it any day.

If your sample fails: The most common causes are a missing stabilising capsule or consent form. If it does happen, you'll get one free replacement kit, re-posted at no extra charge for UK orders.

Colour coded results

• Green: no variation of the gene, or the variant works in your favour
• Amber: somewhat negative effect
• Red: negative effect

Arrows show direction, meaning whether the variant turns that gene up or down.

Your personal pathway map

The front of your report is a single diagram of your histamine pathway with your own results dropped into it. You can see, at a glance, where the traffic backs up.

What each result actually says

Not just "you have this variant" but what it does and what supports it. For example, a slower DAO result comes with the cofactors DAO depends on, which are vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin C and copper. A reduced MTHFR result explains why methylation and histamine are so often linked, and what feeds the pathway.

7 genes, 3 categories.

Gastrointestinal

• DAO (diamine oxidase): the primary enzyme for breaking down histamine in the gut; variants can reduce enzyme activity, leading to histamine accumulation after eating histamine-rich foods
• ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2): processes acetaldehyde created during histamine metabolism in the gut; variants can reduce tolerance of alcohol and fermented foods
• GPX1 (glutathione peroxidase 1): protects cells from oxidative damage that can be triggered by excess histamine and inflammation

Nervous and immune

• HNMT (histamine-N-methyltransferase): metabolises histamine in the nervous system and lungs; reduced function lowers clearance capacity in those tissues
• MAOB (monoamine oxidase B): involved in the breakdown of several amines including histamine-related metabolites in the brain
• NAT2 (N-acetyltransferase 2): an acetylation enzyme that affects the clearance of histamine and other biogenic amines; slow acetylator status can increase histamine sensitivity

Methylation

• MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase): affects methylation capacity, which is required for HNMT-dependent histamine clearance and for producing the methyl groups needed to deactivate histamine

Includes everything in the histamine test, plus:

27 genes, 9 categories

Food response

• LCT (lactase): produces the enzyme that digests lactose in milk; variants determine whether lactase production continues into adulthood or declines after early childhood
• HLA-DQA1 (human leukocyte antigen DQ alpha 1): an immune recognition gene; variants carry the main genetic risk for coeliac disease and gluten intolerance
• HLA-DQB1 (human leukocyte antigen DQ beta 1): pairs with HLA-DQA1 in the immune response to gliadin; together they establish whether coeliac disease is genetically possible

Caffeine

• CYP1A2 (cytochrome P450 1A2): the liver's main caffeine detoxifier; variants determine fast or slow metabolism, affecting how long caffeine stays active in the body
• ADORA2A (adenosine A2A receptor): the receptor caffeine blocks to produce its stimulant effect; variants increase sensitivity, so small doses can have a significant effect

Microbiome

• FUT2 (fucosyltransferase 2): determines secretor status, which shapes microbiome diversity and Bifidobacteria levels; also affects B12 absorption and H. pylori susceptibility

Vitamins

• BCO1: converts plant beta-carotene into active vitamin A; variants can cut conversion by more than 50%
• MTHFR: the only route for converting dietary folate into active methyl-folate; variants can slow this by up to 70%
• TCN2: transports B12 into cells; variants slow delivery and can leave B12 status low despite adequate intake
• SLC23A1: controls absorption and distribution of vitamin C
• COL1A1: codes for the collagen in bone, tendon, skin, hair and nails
• GC: transports vitamin D through the bloodstream
• VDR: determines how sensitively cells respond to vitamin D
• VKORC1: recycles vitamin K between its used and active forms

Blood pressure

• ACE: regulates blood vessel constriction and fluid balance
• AGT: the starting point of the blood pressure pathway

Detoxification

• GSTM1: uses glutathione to bind and remove heavy metals, pollutants, hormones and carcinogens; the gene is entirely absent in around half of people

Metabolism

• FADS1, FADS2: control fatty acid conversion between omega-3 and omega-6
• FTO: influences food intake and food choice
• LEPR: receives the satiety signal that regulates appetite
• TCF7L2: the gene most strongly linked to type 2 diabetes
• PGC1A: regulates whole-body energy metabolism and mitochondrial function

Inflammation

• TNF: controls the inflammatory response to infection and injury
• IFNG: drives the immune response to viral and bacterial infection

Circadian rhythm

• CLOCK: a master body clock gene; variants are associated with shorter sleep duration and a preference for waking early
• PER1: sets sleep timing; variants delay sleep onset

A trusted, registered practitioner who is trained on Lifecode Gx's Histamine + Core reports. The video call is done through Zoom and takes thirty minutes with plenty of time for questions. If you are unable to do the preferred video call, let us know and we'll arrange an alternative method.

Yes. If you want to add another report from Lifecode Gx's wider panel, including Core, can be added without re-swabbing, within 6 months after your first report. Testing and practitioner appointments are chargeable. Drop us a message at care@gettolerance.com if you're interested.

The genotyping is at least 99.9% accurate. Anything that fails quality control is not reported. It it appears as "no result" instead of a guess.

No. As we're testing the genetic code, which is fixed, the test is not impacted by illness, infections, medication, the food you eat or any food supplements you take. To avoid contamination of the sample, please abstain from eating / drinking for at least 1 hour before testing. Continue taking any medications and supplements as normal.

No. It does not measure your reaction to specific foods. It reads the genes that govern how your body handles them. It explains why you react rather than cataloguing what you react to. Be wary of any blood tests that claim to be food intolerance tests.

No, and be wary of any blood tests that claim to. What these genetic tests shows is whether you are genetically predisposed to clearing histamine and if you get Core, the other genetic markers linked to your histamine pathway.

All information is anonymised via barcode on arrival at the ISO-certified UK lab. Your report goes to you and to Lifecode GX's nutrigenomics expert, that's it. Your physical sample is destroyed after three months; genotyping data after six. Never sold, never shared, ever, with any third parties. You don't receive raw genome data.

No. Only common variants are analysed, meaning ones present in at least 1% of the population. There are no rare disease markers and no frightening findings in the reports.

Every human has a slightly different genetic makeup. We inherit our gene variants from both parents so although you may have similar genes to your child, you won't have identical gene mutations. Our genes are the same from the moment we are born so you only ever need to do this test once in your lifetime and receive the data on your gene variants for life.