Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
What is included in a genetic test price? | CION Cancer Clinics
A genetic test price should cover the sample, the laboratory reading of every gene on the list, expert review of what each change means and a written report. Counselling, testing for relatives and later updates are where laboratories differ. This page sets out what a complete price covers, what is often charged on top, and what to ask before you pay. 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
17+specialists on panel
15,000+patients treated
35+centres across Telangana & AP
4.8★ / 800+Google rating
On this page
- What am I actually paying for in a genetic test price?
- What do families usually pay for each piece?
- What a complete test price should cover
- Which costs are often charged on top?
- Five questions to ask, and why each one matters
- What this page cannot tell you
- Four things families assume about the price
- Common questions about what a genetic test price covers
The short answer
What am I actually paying for in a genetic test price?
A genetic test price should cover the sample kit, the laboratory reading of every gene on the list, the scientists who judge what each change means, and a written report. Whether it also covers counselling, testing for relatives or later updates depends on the laboratory, and that is where two quotes most often differ.
The part you see and the part you do not
The blood draw takes minutes. Most of the cost sits in what happens afterwards. The laboratory pulls DNA out of the sample, reads the genes on its list, and then a team checks each spelling difference it finds against published evidence. That judgement is skilled work, and it is the part a very cheap quote may cut short.
Why the list of inclusions matters more than the total
A lower total can simply mean fewer things are included. Counselling may be charged on top, relatives may pay full price later, and a reclassified result may never reach you. Compare what each quote covers before you compare the figure at the bottom. The family that pays least on the first bill is not always the family that pays least overall.
Ask for the inclusions in writing. A good laboratory will give you the list without hesitation.Indicative cost
What do families usually pay for each piece?
These are broad ranges seen across laboratories and hospitals, not quotes. Your own figure depends on the lab, the test and what is bundled in.
₹12,000 – ₹30,000
A multigene panel
For the relative who already has cancer. Some labs include counselling in this price and some do not.
₹3,000 – ₹8,000
Testing a relative for a known fault
Looks for one change already found in the family, so it costs much less per person.
₹1,000 – ₹3,000
A separate counselling session
Charged when counselling is not bundled with the test, at the lab or at the hospital.
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. Call the helpline for an estimate against your own situation.
What should be in it
What a complete test price should cover
- The sample kit and the collection itself, blood or saliva
- Transport of the sample to the laboratory in good condition
- Reading every gene on the list the lab has promised
- A check for missing or doubled sections of a gene, not only spelling changes
- Review of each change by the lab's scientists against published evidence
- A written report your doctor can act on, and confirmation of any fault found
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Watch for these
Which costs are often charged on top?
None of these is a trick. They are simply things some laboratories bundle and others bill separately.
Counselling before and after
Some labs include a session with a genetic counsellor. Others send the report to your doctor and leave the explaining to the hospital, which may charge for it. If you live outside Hyderabad, ask whether the session can be held by video, and whether it can be held in Telugu.
Collection away from the lab
Home collection or couriering a sample from a district town can add a small charge. Ask whether a failed or damaged sample is collected again at no cost.
Tests for relatives
If a fault is found, parents, brothers, sisters and children can be tested for that one change. Some labs offer this at a reduced price for a limited time.
Ask before you pay
- Is there a family price?
- For how long does it apply?
- Does it cover relatives in another city?
Updates and raw data
Knowledge about genes grows. Some labs tell you free of charge if a result is reclassified, and some charge to re-read your data or to release the raw data file.
Before you pay
Five questions to ask, and why each one matters
Ask the lab
Why it matters
Is counselling included, before and after?
A report with no one to explain it is hard to use
Which genes are on the list, exactly?
A cheaper panel may simply read fewer genes
Do you check for missing sections of a gene?
Some faults are missed without this extra check
Is there a family price for relatives?
Relatives usually need testing if a fault is found
Will you tell us if the result changes later?
Uncertain results are sometimes reclassified
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot give you a quote for your own test. The right test depends on who in the family is being tested, which cancers are in the family and whether the result will change treatment now. A counsellor decides that first, and the price follows from it.
It cannot choose the laboratory for you
Accreditation, the gene list, how the lab handles uncertain results and how long it keeps your sample all matter alongside price. Your counsellor or oncologist can tell you which labs they trust and why.
It cannot tell you what your cover will pay
Insurance policies, Aarogyasri and Ayushman Bharat each treat a stand-alone gene test differently, and most leave it out. The treatment around the test may still be covered. Check with your insurer or the scheme desk before assuming either way.
Who this does not apply to
Most people with cancer in the family do not need a genetic test, and paying for one without counselling first is rarely a good use of money. If you are holding a report already, what your specific variant means is a question for the counsellor who ordered the test, not for a price list.
If a quote is hard to understand, call the helpline and someone will go through it with you.Commonly believed
Four things families assume about the price
"The cheapest quote is the same test for less money."
Sometimes it is. Often it reads fewer genes, skips the check for missing sections, or leaves counselling out. Compare the inclusions line by line before deciding.
"Someone will explain the result, because we paid for the test."
Not always. Many reports go straight to the ordering doctor. Ask in advance who will sit with you when the result comes back, and whether that visit is charged.
"Our relatives' tests are covered by the first payment."
Rarely. Each relative is a new test, even if it is a much smaller one. Some labs offer a family price, usually for a limited period after the first result.
"A higher price means a better laboratory."
Price reflects what is bundled and what the lab spends on its brand. Accreditation, a clear gene list and a policy on uncertain results tell you far more about quality.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about what a genetic test price covers
Does the price include genetic counselling?
It depends on the laboratory. Some bundle a counselling session before and after the test, and some charge for it separately or leave it to the hospital. Ask directly, and ask whether the counsellor is a trained genetic counsellor or a sales representative.
Is the report written in a way I can understand?
Usually not fully. Reports are written for the doctor who ordered them, with gene names and classification terms. That is why the counselling visit afterwards matters as much as the test. Bring the report to that visit rather than searching the variant online.
What happens if the sample fails?
Most laboratories collect a fresh sample at no extra cost if the first one cannot be read. Confirm this before paying, especially if the sample is being couriered from a district, where delays in transport are more likely.
Is confirmation of a positive result included?
Many labs confirm a fault with a second method before reporting it, and include that in the price. It is a fair question to ask. A result that will guide surgery or screening for years should be one the lab has double-checked.
Do I get my raw data?
Some laboratories release the raw data file on request, and some charge for it. Most families never need it. It can help if you later want a second lab to look at the same data, so ask what the policy is.
Will the lab tell me if my result is reclassified?
Policies differ. Some labs contact the ordering doctor when a variant is reclassified, and some only respond if you ask. Keep your contact details with the doctor up to date, and ask the lab how updates are handled before you test.
Is the price different if my oncologist orders it?
Sometimes. Hospitals may have agreed prices with certain labs, and may add counselling or collection to the bill. Ask for the breakdown so you can compare it fairly with a quote you have been given directly.
Can CION help me compare two quotes?
Yes. Bring both quotes and the name of the test your doctor suggested. Someone will go through what each one includes and what it leaves out, so you can decide on what you are getting rather than on the total alone.
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
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
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
- MedlinePlus Genetics — What is genetic counseling?
- NHS — Predictive genetic tests for cancer risk genes
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
Why panel prices vary so much between labsThe reasons two quotes for one test can differIs genetic counselling charged separately?The inclusion families most often missComparing two quotes for the same testA line-by-line way to compare offersCost of testing relatives after a positive resultWhat the next round of tests usually costs
Talk to us
Holding a quote you cannot make sense of?
Send us the quote and the name of the test your doctor suggested. We will go through what it includes and what it leaves out, in plain terms. One helpline serves every CION centre.