Symptoms that don't add up — and bloods that look normal. It's worth ruling out a genetic cause.
If you've experienced persistent fatigue, joint pain, or unexplained changes to your skin or liver function, hereditary haemochromatosis is one cause worth ruling out. The FitnessGenes DNA test reports your HFE genotype with clinical-grade accuracy.
You carry two copies of the HFE C282Y mutation — the primary genetic cause of type 1 hereditary haemochromatosis.
Does any of this sound familiar? Tap what applies to you.
Hereditary haemochromatosis is famously hard to spot because its symptoms look like everything else. Tick everything that resonates for a personalised indication.
It's the most common genetic disease you've never heard of. And it's hiding in plain sight.
Hereditary haemochromatosis causes the body to absorb too much iron from food. The iron has nowhere to go — so it slowly accumulates in the liver, joints, heart, and pancreas, often for decades before symptoms become severe enough to investigate. The gene variants behind it are well-understood, the test is simple, and the treatment is one of the most effective in modern medicine. The only thing missing is the diagnosis.
The primary driver
Two copies is the genotype most strongly linked to iron overload — 80–95% of diagnosed European cases.
The compound modifier
One copy alongside a C282Y copy (a "compound heterozygote") can also lead to milder iron accumulation.
From "could it be?" to a clear answer in four steps.
No clinic visits, no needles, no upfront referrals. Just spit, post, wait, and read.
Saliva kit posted free
Order online and we'll ship your collection kit within 24 hours, anywhere in the UK.
2ml of saliva, that's it
Spit into the tube, seal, drop it back in the prepaid envelope. Five minutes, kitchen counter.
EU-accredited lab
Your sample is processed in our ISO 17025 lab. We screen 600,000+ variants — including HFE.
Plain-English report
Your haemochromatosis insight unlocks in your app, alongside dozens of other DNA-led reports.
What you'll actually see in your report.
Clear, clinical-grade information — written so you can read it on the bus, not just hand it to a doctor.
You carry two copies of the HFE C282Y mutation — the primary genetic cause of type 1 hereditary haemochromatosis.
- 01
Your exact HFE genotype
Zygosity for HFE C282Y and H63D — the two variants clinically relevant to hereditary haemochromatosis.
- 02
What it means in plain English
Each combination explained simply — what's elevated, what's reassuring, and what's truly nothing to worry about.
- 03
The exact tests to ask your GP for
If your result is elevated, a one-page summary for your GP — including serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, the markers that confirm a clinical diagnosis.
- 04
Lifestyle levers that actually move the needle
Iron-aware nutrition, supplement caution, and the role of regular blood donation — written as guidance, not gospel.
- 05
Full access to BASIL & every workout plan
Every test includes the BASIL longevity system, plus unlimited access to all FitnessGenes workout plans — at no extra cost.
Iron damage is silent — until suddenly it isn't.
By the time haemochromatosis announces itself loudly, the damage is often already done. The opposite is also true — catch it early, and you can live a completely normal life.
Vague symptoms, normal bloods
Tiredness, brain fog, the odd ache. Routine bloodwork looks fine — the body is quietly absorbing more iron than it can use.
Iron load crosses the threshold
Joint pain becomes harder to dismiss. Skin tone shifts. Liver enzymes drift up — but rarely enough to alarm a busy GP.
Damage that doesn't fully reverse
By the time symptomatic haemochromatosis is diagnosed, many already have cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, or diabetes. The DNA test is the one thing that can intercept this.
Two ways to access your HFE genotype.
Whether you're new to DNA testing or already have data from another provider, you'll receive the same haemochromatosis report alongside 180+ further FitnessGenes reports.
For first-time DNA decoders
Non-invasive saliva collection kit, processed in our EU-accredited laboratory.
- Saliva collection kit, posted to your door
- HFE C282Y & H63D zygosity report
- 180+ further DNA reports across 14 categories
- Personalised nutrition, fitness & supplement guidance
- GP handover summary for elevated results
- Lifetime access to new report releases
Genetic information is not a clinical diagnosis. Follow-up with a healthcare professional is recommended for elevated results.
For existing DNA data holders
Already have raw DNA data? Upload it and unlock your reports in minutes — no kit, no waiting.
- Upload from 23andMe, Ancestry.com or MyHeritage
- HFE C282Y & H63D zygosity report
- 180+ further DNA reports across 14 categories
- Personalised nutrition, fitness & supplement guidance
- GP handover summary for elevated results
- Lifetime access to new report releases
Some DNA testing providers may not report the specific HFE variants required to calculate this result. We are unable to confirm this before purchase or use of the product.
The fair questions everyone asks first.
No — and we'd never claim otherwise. Our test is a genetic screen for the two HFE variants (C282Y and H63D) responsible for the vast majority of hereditary haemochromatosis cases. A high-risk result means you should follow up with your GP for serum ferritin and transferrin saturation tests, the standard clinical pathway to a formal diagnosis. We give you the evidence to take to that conversation.
Because iron levels in routine bloodwork can sit within "normal" ranges for years before damage shows up. Your DNA, on the other hand, does not change. If you carry two copies of C282Y, your lifetime risk of iron overload is significantly elevated — actionable information today, not after the damage is done.
Order online, we post a saliva collection kit, you spit, you send it back in the prepaid envelope. Our EU-accredited lab analyses 600,000+ DNA variants, including the two HFE variants linked to haemochromatosis. Results land in your FitnessGenes app within 4–6 weeks, with clear, plain-English explanations and a dedicated haemochromatosis report.
You'll get a written report you can share with your GP. The clinical follow-up is straightforward: a blood test, and if iron is elevated, periodic phlebotomy — regular blood donations, one of the simplest, most effective treatments in modern medicine. Caught early, life expectancy is normal.
Haemochromatosis is one of dozens of evidence-based reports included in your full FitnessGenes profile, covering nutrition, fitness, sleep, longevity markers and more. The haemochromatosis insight is included at no extra cost.
Yes. Your sample is processed in a UK ISO-accredited lab, your data is encrypted, and we never sell or share your genetic information with insurers, advertisers, or third parties. You can delete your data at any time.
Identify your HFE genotype once.
Hereditary haemochromatosis is highly manageable when identified early. A single DNA test reports your zygosity for the two clinically-relevant HFE variants — information that does not change.
This is genetic information, not a clinical diagnosis. An elevated genetic-risk result for hereditary haemochromatosis indicates the need for follow-up clinical testing (typically serum ferritin and transferrin saturation) with a qualified healthcare professional. Do not start, stop, or change any medical treatment based on a DNA test alone. If you have any symptoms that concern you, please speak to your GP.