Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Genetic testing cost in India: the full picture | CION Cancer Clinics
The first inherited cancer test usually costs in the tens of thousands of rupees, and tests for relatives cost much less. But the test is only part of the bill. This page sets out every piece of the cost, from counselling to relatives' tests and later screening, with indicative ranges, what schemes and insurance usually pay for, and how families keep the total down. At CION Cancer Clinics in Hyderabad, our oncologists review your family history with you and guide you to the right genetic counselling and testing.
NG
Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- How much does genetic testing for cancer risk cost in India?
- What makes up the full cost of genetic testing?
- What do the main pieces usually cost?
- How do families keep the cost down?
- What schemes and insurance usually pay for, and what they do not
- What this page cannot tell you
- Four things families assume about the cost
- Common questions about the cost of genetic testing
The short answer
How much does genetic testing for cancer risk cost in India?
For most families the first inherited cancer test costs somewhere in the tens of thousands of rupees, and later tests for relatives cost far less. The test itself is only one part of the bill. Counselling, relatives' tests and any screening that follows a positive result all add to it.
Why the price varies so much
Prices depend on how many genes are read, which lab does the work, and what is bundled in. A hospital price may include counselling and sample handling, while a lab's own price may not. Offers and sponsored programmes for particular cancers can also lower the figure for some patients.
Who usually pays
In India the family usually pays for a stand-alone inherited test directly. Government schemes and most health policies are built around treatment rather than risk testing. Often it is an adult son or daughter who covers the cost, which is one reason a clear estimate before the sample is taken matters so much.
What happens if nothing is found
If the first test finds no fault, the spending usually stops there. Well relatives are then screened on the family history alone, at normal cost, and nobody else needs a genetic test. This is the most common outcome, and it is worth knowing before you budget for the worst case.
Ask for the total cost to the family, not only the price of the first test.The whole bill
What makes up the full cost of genetic testing?
Four kinds of cost arrive at different times. Planning for all four avoids surprises later.
Counselling
A session before the test to draw the family tree and decide who should be tested, and a session after it to explain the result. Some centres include this in the test price. It is also where you learn whether testing is worth paying for at all.
The first test
Usually done on the relative who already has cancer, and usually the largest single cost. It has to be broad enough to find a fault if one is there. If that relative has died, a stored tissue block can sometimes be tested instead, at an extra cost.
Relatives' tests
If a fault is found, close relatives can be tested for that exact change. Each test is much cheaper, but several relatives may want one.
Often includes
- Brothers and sisters
- Adult children
- Relatives in other cities
What a positive result leads to
Carriers may start earlier or extra screening, which is a repeat cost over many years. This is often the biggest cost of all, and the one families least expect. Some of those scans may be covered by insurance or a scheme.
Indicative cost
What do the main pieces usually cost?
These are broad ranges seen across laboratories and hospitals, not quotes. Your figure depends on the lab, the test and what is included.
₹1,000 – ₹5,000
A genetic counselling session
Sometimes included in the test price.
₹12,000 – ₹30,000
First multigene panel
For the relative who already has cancer.
₹8,000 – ₹20,000
Targeted test of a few genes
Such as a test limited to the two BRCA genes.
₹3,000 – ₹8,000
Testing a relative for a known fault
Looks for one change only.
Indicative only. Prices vary widely between labs and hospitals, and change over time. Stand-alone genetic tests are often not covered by insurance or government schemes, while some scans and surgery may be. Call the helpline for an estimate against your own cover.
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Keeping it affordable
How do families keep the cost down?
- Test the relative who already has cancer first, so well relatives need only the cheaper test
- Ask whether a sponsored or subsidised programme covers your cancer type
- Get written quotes that list the genes and the inclusions
- Ask whether relatives are offered a reduced price at the same lab
- Check with your insurer in writing before the sample is taken
- Keep the report safe so nobody has to repeat the test later
Side by side
What schemes and insurance usually pay for, and what they do not
Often paid by a scheme or policy
Often paid by the family
Cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy
A stand-alone test for an inherited fault
Hospital stays linked to treatment
Tests for relatives who are well
Some scans after a diagnosis
Screening scans for a well carrier
Some tests that directly guide treatment
Counselling sessions at many centres
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you what your family will pay. That depends on which test your counsellor recommends, who is tested first, what your policy or scheme says and whether a fault is found. A written estimate for your own situation is the only figure worth planning around.
It cannot promise what a scheme will cover
Aarogyasri, Ayushman Bharat and private policies each have their own rules, and those rules change. What one family was told last year may not apply to you now. Ask the scheme desk or your insurer in writing before the test, not after. Note the name of the person you spoke to and the date.
Who this does not apply to
Most people do not need an inherited cancer test at all. If your family has one relative diagnosed at an older age and no pattern of young or rare cancers, you may never face these costs. Tumour testing to choose a medicine is a different service, covered on the targeted therapy pages.
Commonly believed
Four things families assume about the cost
"Genetic testing is only for rich families."
Prices have fallen a great deal, and testing the right person first keeps the family bill down. Sponsored programmes also exist for some cancers. Ask before assuming it is out of reach.
"Aarogyasri will pay for the test because it pays for treatment."
Scheme cover is built around treatment packages. A stand-alone inherited test is often not included. Check with the scheme desk for your own case before the sample is taken.
"Every relative will need the expensive test."
Only the first person usually does. Once a fault is known, relatives are tested for that one change, which costs a fraction of the first test.
"Once the test is paid for, the spending is over."
A positive result often leads to earlier or extra screening over many years. That repeat cost can be larger than the test itself, so it is worth planning for early.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about the cost of genetic testing
Is genetic testing cheaper in India than abroad?
Generally yes. Several accredited Indian laboratories run the same kinds of panel at lower prices than labs abroad. Sending a sample overseas adds courier cost and delay, and it is rarely needed for inherited cancer testing.
Does health insurance cover genetic testing?
Stand-alone risk testing is often not covered, though policies differ and some cover tests that directly guide treatment. Ask your insurer in writing before testing, and keep an itemised bill in case a claim is possible.
Is genetic testing covered under Aarogyasri?
Aarogyasri is built around treatment packages, and stand-alone inherited testing is often not among them. Rules change, so ask the Aarogyasri desk at the hospital about your own case before the sample is taken.
Why is the first test so much dearer than a relative's?
The first test has to search many genes because nobody yet knows where a fault might be. A relative's test only checks the single spot already found, which is quicker and far cheaper for the lab to do.
Are there free or sponsored tests in India?
Some labs and drug companies sponsor testing for particular cancers, and some research studies offer testing. Eligibility is narrow and changes over time. Ask your oncologist or counsellor whether anything currently fits your situation.
Does counselling cost extra?
At some centres it is included in the test price, and at others it is charged per session. Ask before you pay. Counselling is what turns a report into a decision, so it is not the part to skip.
Can we pay for relatives' tests later?
Yes. Relatives can be tested whenever they are ready, using the original report. Keep that report safe, because the lab needs the exact change to look for. Ask whether a reduced price has a time limit.
How do I get an estimate for my family?
Write down who was diagnosed, with what and at roughly what age, and what cover you have. Call the CION helpline with that list. Someone will set out the likely costs, including what may follow the result.
What moves the figure
What affects the cost
Four things change the total more than anything else.
The technique used
A shaped or image-guided delivery costs more than a conventional one, and is chosen on clinical grounds rather than preference.
How many sessions
The total is driven by the number of sittings or cycles, not by a single per-visit figure.
Supporting tests
Scans, blood work and pathology done alongside treatment are billed separately.
Your cover
Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS or cashless insurance usually change the out-of-pocket figure substantially.
Paying for it
Insurance, schemes and payment
What you actually pay usually differs a great deal from the sticker figure.
AarogyasriEmpanelled. Bring the card and a referral where you have one.
CGHS / ECHS / EHSAccepted at CION centres for eligible treatment.
Cashless insuranceMost major insurers are empanelled. Pre-authorisation is handled by our desk.
Self-payItemised estimate given before treatment starts. No EMI scheme exists.
Accreditation and empanelment
- NABH
- NABL
- ISO 9001:2015
- ArogyaSri empanelled
- CGHS accepted
- ECHS accepted
- EHS accepted
- Major cashless insurers
Your Specialists
Meet CION's oncologists. Bring your family history or genetic report to them.
Our medical oncologists see people with a strong family history of cancer, arrange genetic counselling and testing where it fits, and plan the checks that follow.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
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Where to find us
Our centres in and around Hyderabad
Addressed by landmark, because that is how this city navigates. One helpline books a consultation at any of these centres, and your team will tell you where counselling and testing take place.
Warangal
Vizag
Sources
- MedlinePlus Genetics — What is the cost of genetic testing, and how long does it take to get the results?
- National Cancer Institute — Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes
- National Health Authority — Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
- Government of Telangana — Aarogyasri Health Care Trust
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Cost by test typeIndicative prices for each kind of testIs genetic testing covered by health insurance?What to ask your insurer before testingGenetic testing under AarogyasriWhat the Telangana scheme does and does not coverBudgeting for testing plus lifelong surveillancePlanning for the costs that come after the result
Talk to us
Want a clear estimate before anyone gives a sample?
Tell us who in the family is being tested and what cover you have. We will set out the likely costs in plain terms, including what may follow the result. One helpline serves every CION centre.