ADHD Genetic Test - Mouth Swab

If you do not select the Lab Results Only package, then In ADDITION to your lab report we provide the following options which are INCLUDED in the package prices:

A) Follow up personalised written report produced by our clinical team highlighting dietary and lifestyle advice plus links to supplement protocols, specific doses and any further testing requirements included. We use the patient information you provide us at checkout along with your results to compile personalised action points for you.

OR

B) Follow up 30-minute video call to discuss your results and answer any questions you have. Once the lab has completed your results you will be sent these via email with a link to book a time and day online. You will also then be given the option to upgrade your 30-minute call to a 45-minute call for an additional £30 if you wish. During the call your practitioner will explain the results in more detail and what they mean for you. After your call you are sent a personalised list of supplements & the dose your practitioner advises with links to purchase from our supplements store. This is for your convenience. You are of course welcome to purchase supplements elsewhere. You will also be provided with a list of follow up tests should this be required plus a copy of your recorded zoom call which you can download and keep.

OR

C) Both Zoom call and written report with personalised next steps (Zoom call is first and written report follows).

All kits are shipped via Royal Mail 1st Class. For international orders your kit is shipped via tracked courier.

The lab report is typically emailed to you in approximately 4 weeks from the time the lab receives your sample.

The test examines 24 gene variants that influence neurotransmitter production, signalling, and clearance across multiple brain chemistry pathways relevant to ADHD and neurodiversity. The full gene list is:

Dopamine pathway — DRD2 (ANKK1), TH, SLC6A4 (DAT1), DBH, COMT
Serotonin pathway — HTR1A, HTR1B
GABA signalling — GAD1, GAD2, GABRA2, APLP1
Adrenergic response — ADRB1, ADRB2, SLC6A2, PNMT
Monoamine metabolism — MAOA, MAOB
Endocannabinoid system — CNR1, TRPV1
Melatonin synthesis — ASMT
Methylation — MTHFR
Vitamin D receptor — VDR
Stress response — FKBP5
Caffeine metabolism — ADORA2A

Many of these genes affect overlapping pathways — for example, COMT influences both dopamine and noradrenaline clearance, while MAOA and MAOB metabolise serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline simultaneously. This interconnected analysis helps practitioners identify where neurotransmitter imbalances are most likely to be occurring.

This test is suitable for anyone at any age who wants to explore the genetic factors behind attention, focus, and impulse-control difficulties. It is particularly relevant if you:

Suspect you or your child may have ADHD but have not yet received a formal diagnosis and want to understand whether there is a genetic predisposition
Have been diagnosed with ADHD and want to understand which specific neurotransmitter pathways are affected, to guide nutritional and lifestyle support alongside any existing treatment
Are a parent wanting to explore whether a child's behavioural or attention difficulties have a genetic component
Experience overlapping traits associated with ADHD and ASD, and want a broader neurodiversity picture
Have tried standard approaches to managing focus and concentration and want a more personalised, gene-guided strategy
Are a practitioner working within a functional medicine framework who wants genetic data to inform targeted supplement and dietary protocols

No — this test cannot diagnose ADHD. ADHD is a clinical diagnosis made by a qualified healthcare professional based on behavioural criteria, developmental history, and clinical assessment. What this test does is identify specific gene variants that affect the neurotransmitter pathways most commonly implicated in ADHD — particularly dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, and GABA signalling. The results can help explain why certain ADHD-related traits may be present, and they provide a genetic basis for tailoring nutritional support, but they do not replace a clinical evaluation. Many people use this test to complement a formal diagnosis, or to explore whether a genetic predisposition exists before pursuing further assessment.

Dopamine and noradrenaline are the two neurotransmitters most directly linked to ADHD symptoms. Dopamine drives motivation, reward processing, and the ability to sustain attention, while noradrenaline supports alertness, focus, and impulse regulation. This test examines several genes that control how these neurotransmitters are produced, transported, and broken down:

DRD2 (ANKK1) — encodes the dopamine D2 receptor, influencing reward sensitivity and motivation
TH — involved in the initial synthesis of dopamine from tyrosine
SLC6A4 (DAT1) — the dopamine transporter gene, which determines how quickly dopamine is cleared from the synapse
DBH — converts dopamine into noradrenaline; variants can affect the balance between these two neurotransmitters
COMT — metabolises both dopamine and noradrenaline; slow COMT variants can lead to higher prefrontal cortex dopamine levels, affecting executive function
SLC6A2 — the noradrenaline transporter, influencing how quickly noradrenaline is recycled
Variants in any of these genes can shift the balance of dopamine and noradrenaline signalling, contributing to the attention, focus, and impulsivity traits associated with ADHD.

Yes — the test is suitable from any age. The cheek-swab collection is painless, non-invasive, and straightforward to carry out with a child. Because DNA is fixed from birth, results are valid for life and the test only needs to be done once. Parents often order this test when a child is showing early signs of attention or behavioural difficulty and they want to understand whether genetic factors may be involved, either before or alongside a formal clinical assessment. The personalised nutritional recommendations included in the report are tailored to the individual's genetic profile and can be discussed with your practitioner to ensure any suggested supplements or dietary adjustments are age-appropriate.

Yes — kit registration is a mandatory step before you post your sample back to the laboratory. You can register by scanning the QR code included in your kit instructions, or by visiting yourgutmap.co.uk/dnamap-form directly. If you return your sample without registering, the lab will not be able to process it. International customers also need to complete a return-shipping form at portal.yourgutmap.co.uk/samplereturn to receive a free return-postage label before sending their sample back.

There is significant overlap between this ADHD Genetic Test and the Nervous System DNA Test from Lifecode GX, as both examine neurotransmitter pathway genes — including COMT, MAOA, MAOB, HTR1A, GAD1, GAD2, GABRA2, CNR1, TRPV1, ASMT, DBH, PNMT, ADRB2, SLC6A2, MTHFR, VDR, and FKBP5. The key differences are focus and scope. This ADHD test is specifically designed around the gene variants most commonly implicated in attention deficit and hyperactivity, and it includes additional dopamine-specific markers such as DRD2, TH, SLC6A4 (DAT1), ADORA2A, and ADRB1 that do not appear in the Nervous System report. The Nervous System test, by contrast, covers a broader emotional health picture including the kynurenic acid and full melatonin pathways. Your practitioner can advise which test — or combination — is most appropriate depending on whether ADHD traits, broader mood and emotional regulation, or both are the primary concern.

Genetics reveal predisposition, but functional testing shows what is actually happening in your body right now. Depending on your results and symptoms, your practitioner may recommend:

If you want to measure current neurotransmitter levels — the Comprehensive Neurotransmitter Profile (urine test) quantifies dopamine, serotonin, GABA, noradrenaline, and their metabolites to show how your genetic variants are expressing in real-time biochemistry
If serotonin is a specific concern — the Serotonin Urine Test provides a focused assessment of serotonin metabolism
If stress and cortisol patterns may be contributing to attention difficulties — the DUTCH Adrenal Stress Test evaluates the cortisol awakening response and daily cortisol rhythm
If vitamin D status is flagged by VDR variants in your report — a Vitamin D dried blood spot test can confirm whether your current levels are adequate
If MTHFR variants are present and methylation is a concern — the Methylation DNA Test provides a comprehensive map of the full methylation cycle
Combining genetic insights with functional test results allows your practitioner to build a fully personalised support plan.