Comparison
Medichecks Sports Hormone Check vs a DNA test: which do steroid users need?
Quick answer
They answer different questions, so many people use both. Medichecks' Sports Hormone blood tests (£109 and £159) measure your hormone levels and blood health on the day, which is what monitoring steroid use needs. GeneticEdge reads five genetic markers studied in connection with hormones, which don't change, so it is a one-off test.
- Medichecks Sports Hormone: £109, 36 biomarkers from a venous blood sample, results in 3 working days.
- Medichecks Advanced Sports Hormone: £159, 42 biomarkers including free testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol, LH, FSH and haematocrit.
- GeneticEdge: Starter Panel £249 or Core Panel £449 with a consultation, from saliva, once.
Medichecks and GeneticEdge, side by side
Medichecks is a UK blood-testing company. Its Sports Hormone tests are aimed at athletes and bodybuilders, and its own FAQ explains why they suit people who use steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. GeneticEdge doesn't measure any level in your blood; it reads variants in your DNA.
| Medichecks | GeneticEdge | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Blood tests for hormones and general health, analysed in a UK laboratory. | An at-home saliva DNA test that reports five genetic markers studied in connection with testosterone and other hormones, explained in plain English. |
| Price | Sports Hormone £109. Advanced Sports Hormone £159. Ultimate Performance £199. A clinic draw adds £35, a home nurse £59. | Starter Panel £249. Core Panel £449, with a 30-minute consultation. Waitlist open; not yet on sale. |
| Sample | Venous blood, drawn at a partner clinic (£35) or by a home nurse (£59). | Saliva, collected at home. No blood, no needles. |
| What it measures | Hormone levels (testosterone, oestradiol, thyroid; the Advanced test adds free testosterone, SHBG, LH and FSH) and health markers such as haematocrit, liver, kidney and cholesterol. | Five genetic markers studied in connection with hormones: which variants you carry, what researchers have found about them and where the evidence is uncertain. |
| How often | Repeatable. Levels change, so monitoring means testing again. | Once. Your DNA doesn't change. |
| Results | 3 working days for the Sports Hormone tests. | Online report. Turnaround confirmed when orders open. |
| Made for | Athletes, bodybuilders and people using performance-enhancing drugs who want to monitor their health. | People who take anabolic steroids, or are thinking about it, and want to understand their hormone genetics without being told what to take. |
Where Medichecks is stronger
- It measures what is happening in your body now: haematocrit, liver, kidney, cholesterol and hormone levels.
- It's the test UK guidance points to for monitoring steroid use, and it can be repeated before, during and after use.
- Results in about 3 working days, at £109 to £159.
Where GeneticEdge is stronger
- It reads genetic variants researchers have studied in connection with hormones, which no blood test can show.
- One saliva sample, no needles, and the result never goes out of date.
- The Core Panel includes a 30-minute consultation about the findings.
Which should you choose?
If you use anabolic steroids, a monitoring blood test like Medichecks' should come first, and be repeated. Choose GeneticEdge as well if you want to know which hormone-related variants you were born with. Neither test can tell you that steroids are safe for you.
Whether anabolic steroids are safe for you. Genetic tests read variants; blood tests read levels. Neither predicts what a substance will do to you. Why not.
Questions
Is a DNA test better than a blood test for steroid users?
No, they do different jobs. A blood test shows your hormone levels and blood health now, which is what monitoring needs. A DNA test shows variants you were born with. If you choose one for health monitoring, choose the blood test.
What does Medichecks' Sports Hormone Check test?
The £109 Sports Hormone test covers 36 biomarkers, including testosterone, oestradiol and thyroid hormones, alongside general health markers. The £159 Advanced version has 42, adding calculated free testosterone, SHBG, LH, FSH and haematocrit.
Can a blood test show my genetics?
No. A standard hormone blood test measures levels, not genes. Two people can have similar testosterone levels and different variants in the genes that handle testosterone.
How often should steroid users have blood tests?
Published UK primary-care guidance suggests tests before starting, during use and after stopping. See our blood test checklist for the markers and timing.
Sources
Keep reading
- Compare
DNA test vs blood test
What a blood test and a genetic test can each tell you about your hormones, side by side.
- Tools
Steroid blood test checklist
A printable checklist of blood tests and health checks for anyone using, or thinking about, anabolic steroids.
- Guides
Blood tests for steroid users
What to test, when, and where in the UK, from published guidance for people who use anabolic steroids.
For information only, not medical advice. GeneticEdge does not recommend or endorse anabolic steroid use, and no genetic test can tell you whether steroids are safe for you. Talk to a GP or pharmacist about your health. Last reviewed 30 October 2026.