Your Questions Answered
Everything you need to know
before and after your test
We know home testing is new territory. Here are the answers to the questions we hear most — honest, plain-English, no jargon.
About the Test
The Root Cause Kit measures seven key biomarkers from a single finger-prick blood sample: hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein — your primary inflammation marker), Cortisol (stress hormone load), DHEAS (adrenal reserve and stress resilience), Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin (iron stores), and HbA1c (average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months). Together, these seven markers give a clinically meaningful snapshot of your inflammatory and stress recovery status — the biological drivers most commonly underlying chronic headaches, fatigue, and brain fog.
Yes. Finger-prick capillary blood testing has been validated extensively for all six biomarkers in the Root Cause Kit. Your sample is analysed by Inuvi Diagnostics, a UKAS-accredited British laboratory — the same accreditation standard used by NHS laboratories. Capillary sampling is standard practice across clinical research and is preferred for home testing precisely because it produces accurate, consistent results without requiring a clinic visit.
✓ UKAS accredited · UK laboratory · NHS-equivalent standards
These seven markers were selected because they map directly to the domains most disrupted in chronic inflammatory conditions. hsCRP captures active systemic inflammation. Cortisol and DHEAS together reveal your stress axis function and adrenal reserve — two things that rarely get tested together on the NHS. Vitamin D deficiency is present in the majority of chronic pain patients and directly modulates immune response. B12 underpins neurological function and energy production. Ferritin reflects iron stores, which affect oxygen delivery, energy, and cognitive clarity. HbA1c reveals your average blood sugar control over the past 2–3 months — chronically elevated blood sugar is a powerful driver of neuroinflammation, reactive headaches, and energy crashes that standard GP panels often miss until full diabetes criteria are met. Together they give clinical insight a standard GP panel typically doesn’t provide.
Possibly some of them, but rarely all six together — and almost never interpreted through the lens of inflammation and stress recovery. GPs typically test B12, Vitamin D or Ferritin in isolation when deficiency is suspected, but hsCRP at high-sensitivity and the Cortisol/DHEAS pairing are not part of standard NHS blood panels. Even when individual markers are tested, the results are usually reported against broad population reference ranges rather than functional optimal ranges. Our interpretation looks at where your markers sit relative to optimal function, not just “normal.”
Collecting Your Sample
The kit contains a pre-loaded lancet — a small, spring-activated device that creates a tiny prick on your fingertip. Most people describe it as a brief sting lasting less than a second, comparable to a paper cut. Your kit includes step-by-step instructions, and the process takes around 5–10 minutes. Warm your hands beforehand (run them under warm water for 2 minutes) — this is the single most effective thing you can do to ensure good blood flow and a smooth collection.
Yes — a few simple steps ensure your results are accurate. Take your sample in the morning, ideally between 7am and 9am, as this is when Cortisol is at its natural peak and gives the most clinically useful reading. Fast for 8–10 hours beforehand (water is fine). Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours prior, as intense activity can temporarily elevate inflammatory markers. Do not take Vitamin D, B12 or iron supplements on the morning of your test — wait until after you’ve collected your sample.
This is the most common concern — and it almost always comes down to hand temperature. Warm hands are everything. Run warm water over your hands for 2–3 minutes, let your arm hang down by your side for 30 seconds, then prick the side of your ring or middle finger (not the fingertip centre — the sides bleed more freely). Gently milk the finger from base to tip rather than squeezing hard. If you have a second lancet included in your kit and the first attempt is unsuccessful, contact us and we’ll send a replacement collection kit at no charge.
Your kit includes a pre-paid Royal Mail returns envelope and a biohazard-compliant sample bag. Once collected, seal the sample as instructed and post it on the same day, Monday to Thursday — avoid posting on Fridays or over weekends to prevent samples sitting in transit over a bank holiday. The dried blood spot format used in the Root Cause Kit is stable at room temperature for up to 5 days, so standard postal delivery is not a concern.
Results & Timing
The timeline is straightforward: your kit arrives within 2 working days of ordering. Once you’ve collected your sample and posted it back, your results are typically ready within 2–3 working days of the lab receiving your sample. In total, most people have their results in hand within one week of ordering. You’ll receive an email notification when your results are available, and your full MATRIX report will be waiting in your Inflamatrix account.
Yes — clearly. Your results are delivered as a personalised MATRIX report, not a raw lab printout. Each biomarker is explained in plain English with your result shown against an optimal functional range (not just a population average). You’ll receive a written clinical narrative explaining what your pattern of results means, which MATRIX domains are affected, and what your next steps could look like. The report is designed to be read without a medical background.
You have two clear options. Option one: use your report independently — take it to your own GP, nutritionist, or health practitioner, or use the educational resources provided to begin addressing your results yourself. Option two: book a follow-up consultation with Matthew Burden BSc (Hons) Chiropractic to walk through your results clinically, map your personal MATRIX profile, and build a structured recovery plan around your specific findings. Matthew specialises in chronic pain, fatigue, and neuroinflammation — the complex, long-running issues that often fall through the gaps in standard GP appointments. Where further medical investigation is needed, he can refer you to his network of doctors. There is no obligation to book — both paths are equally valid.
Yes, absolutely. Your results include the raw laboratory values from a UKAS-accredited facility, which your GP can review alongside their own clinical assessment. Some GPs are more receptive to functional testing than others — if your results show a significant finding (such as a very elevated hsCRP or very low Vitamin D), this can serve as useful evidence to request further NHS investigation or to discuss supplementation. Your report is yours to share with any health professional you choose.
Clinical & Safety
If any of your biomarker results fall outside a clinically significant threshold, your report will clearly flag this and recommend that you consult your GP as a priority. We provide functional health insights — we do not diagnose medical conditions. If a result indicates a potentially serious concern (such as a very high CRP suggesting active infection or a markedly abnormal Ferritin level), we will contact you directly via email to ensure you are aware and pointed in the right direction. Where appropriate, Matthew can also refer you to his network of doctors for further medical assessment. Your safety always comes first.
Yes, for the vast majority of medications. The Root Cause Kit is an assessment tool, not an intervention — taking a blood test does not interact with any medication. However, it is worth noting that certain medications can influence your results. For example, corticosteroids (such as prednisolone) will suppress CRP and alter Cortisol readings. Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole) affect B12 absorption over time. Statins can influence inflammatory markers. Your report will account for common medication effects, and you’ll be asked about current medications as part of your intake information.
Not necessarily in isolation — and this is exactly why a single biomarker is never the whole story. hsCRP is a highly sensitive marker of inflammatory activity, but it rises in response to both acute infection (a cold, a sprain) and chronic low-grade inflammation. Context matters. Your report will interpret hsCRP alongside your other five markers and your symptom picture. A slightly elevated hsCRP in someone with fatigue, low DHEAS, and suboptimal Vitamin D tells a very different clinical story to the same value in someone who’s just recovered from a chest infection. We look at the pattern, not the number.
About the Root Cause DNA Test
The Root Cause DNA test analyses specific Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) — targeted genetic variations that influence how your body manages nutrition, inflammation, metabolism, and recovery. This is not whole-genome sequencing. We focus exclusively on clinically actionable genes across nine key domains: Food Response (gluten and lactose tolerance), Caffeine metabolism, Microbiome, Vitamins, Blood Pressure, Detoxification, Metabolism, Inflammation, and Circadian Rhythm. Analysed by LifeCode Gx, one of the UK’s leading nutrigenomic laboratories, every gene in the panel was selected because it has a direct, actionable implication for how you eat, supplement, and live. These variants do not change over time — this is a one-time, lifelong reference.
No — and this distinction is important. The Root Cause DNA test does not predict disease. It identifies tendencies and bottlenecks — genetic variations that mean your body may need more support in specific areas. For example, a variant in the MTHFR gene doesn’t mean you will develop a health problem; it means your body is less efficient at converting folate into its active form, which is easily addressed with the right form of supplementation. Genes load the gun — lifestyle pulls the trigger. This test shows you which levers to pull.
The panel covers nine domains, each with specific genes tested:
Food Response — HLA-DQA1 & HLA-DQB1 (gluten sensitivity / coeliac risk) and LCT (lactase persistence / lactose tolerance)
Caffeine Metabolism — CYP1A2 (how fast you clear caffeine) and ADORA2A (caffeine sensitivity and anxiety response)
Microbiome — FUT2 (secretor status, which shapes your gut bacteria composition and B12 absorption)
Vitamins — BCO1 (Vitamin A conversion), MTHFR (folate/methylation), FUT2 (B12 absorption), TCN2 (B12 transport), SLC23A1 (Vitamin C), COL1A1 (collagen/Vitamin C), GC and VDR (Vitamin D), VKORC1 (Vitamin K)
Blood Pressure — ACE and AGT (renin-angiotensin system, sodium sensitivity, cardiovascular risk)
Detoxification — GSTM1 (glutathione S-transferase, your primary antioxidant detox enzyme)
Metabolism — FADS1/2 (omega-3/6 conversion), FTO (appetite regulation), TCF7L2 (blood sugar and type 2 diabetes risk), PGC1A (mitochondrial function and exercise response), LEPR (leptin receptor, satiety signalling)
Inflammation — TNF (tumour necrosis factor, master inflammatory cytokine) and IFNG (interferon gamma, immune activation)
Circadian Rhythm — CLOCK and PER1 (your internal body clock genes, influencing sleep timing, cortisol rhythm, and metabolic function)
Collecting Your Sample
A buccal swab is completely painless. The kit contains a small sterile swab (like a cotton bud) that you rub firmly against the inside of your cheek for 60 seconds. That’s it. No needles, no blood. The only preparation required is to avoid eating, drinking (except water), chewing gum, or smoking for 30 minutes beforehand to ensure a clean cell sample. The whole process takes under 3 minutes.
DNA testing is highly robust — unlike blood biomarkers, your genetic sequence does not fluctuate with diet, stress, or time of day. The main risk to sample quality is contamination (from food residue, another person’s saliva, or touching the swab head). Following the 30-minute fast guideline and handling the swab by the handle only will ensure a clean result. If the laboratory cannot extract sufficient DNA from your sample, LifeCode Gx will contact us and we will arrange a replacement swab at no cost.
Results & Timing
Your kit will arrive within 2 working days of ordering. Once received by the laboratory, genomic analysis typically takes 3–4 weeks. This is longer than blood testing because DNA analysis involves a multi-stage laboratory process: DNA extraction from your cheek cells, amplification, genotyping across all SNP variants in the panel, quality control, and clinical interpretation. This is not something that can be rushed without compromising accuracy. The wait is worth it — your results are a permanent, once-in-a-lifetime reference that you will use for years.
No. Your DNA sequence is fixed at birth and does not change throughout your lifetime. This means the Root Cause DNA test is a one-time investment — you will never need to repeat it. What may evolve over time are the clinical recommendations derived from your results, as research into nutrigenomics advances. If significant new findings emerge relating to the genes in your panel, we will update your interpretation accordingly.
Your genetic data is handled under strict UK GDPR and clinical data protection standards. LifeCode Gx processes your sample solely for the purpose of generating your report — your data is not sold, shared with third parties, used for research without explicit consent, or passed to insurance providers. Once your report is generated, you control your data. Full data retention and deletion policies are available in our Privacy Policy and in LifeCode Gx’s patient data charter.
Clinical Questions
Yes, MTHFR is included — and no, you should not worry if you carry a variant. MTHFR variants are remarkably common: the C677T variant is carried by approximately 40% of the population. Having a variant simply means your body converts folic acid into its active form (methylfolate) less efficiently — which has downstream effects on methylation, B12 utilisation, and inflammation regulation. This is highly manageable through supplementing with methylfolate rather than folic acid, and ensuring adequate B12 intake via forms your body can actually use. Knowing your MTHFR status is one of the most practically useful pieces of genetic information you can have, because it directly changes which supplements are right for you.
Powerfully. Your blood biomarkers show what is happening right now in your body — your current inflammatory load, stress hormone status, and nutrient levels. Your DNA results reveal why it’s happening — the genetic tendencies that make you more susceptible to certain imbalances. For example, a low B12 on your blood test alongside an FUT2 variant (which impairs B12 absorption from food) explains why your B12 remains low despite a reasonable diet. Together, the two tests give you the most complete picture of your root cause profile that functional testing can provide.
Every component in your kit is selected to ensure your at-home collection is safe, stable, and completely foolproof:
- 1x Yellow-Capped Microtube (CAT Serum Clot Activator): Used for serum-based biochemical testing. The specialised clot activator ensures a clean separation for the lab.
- 1x Purple-Capped Microtube ($K_2$ EDTA): Used for whole blood and haematology testing. The EDTA coating preserves your blood structure perfectly while it travels to our lab.
- 3x Safety Lancets: Single-use, automated blue finger-prick devices designed to hide the needle entirely. They provide a quick, seamless sample collection without the stress—plus, we’ve included backups just in case.
- 1x Built-In Tube Holder Slot: An innovative slot integrated directly into the kit’s box packaging. It acts as a rock-steady laboratory stand to keep your vials upright and perfectly stable, meaning zero accidental spills.
- 1x Protective Rigid Plastic Clamshell Case: A durable, snap-shut transport case designed specifically to lock your filled blood vials safely in place for transit.
- 1x Pre-Printed Lab Return Form & QR Identity Labels: Your personalized, trackable QR-coded labels ensure an absolute chain of custody. Your sample is securely tied to you from the second it leaves your hands.
- 1x Prepaid Inuvi Diagnostic Mailer: A pre-addressed, trackable return envelope to get your samples straight to our laboratory network without a hitch.
Still have a question?
We’re a small clinical team and we read every message. If your question isn’t answered here, get in touch — we’ll respond within one working day.
