Bangkok · Longevity diagnostics · Updated November 2026 · Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarassawadee Suwanjinda (Dr. Petch), Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, IBLM Diplomate

Biological Age Test: Epigenetic, Telomere & DNA Tests Compared

Biological age, telomere and DNA tests at Healthi Life in Bangkok cost ฿9,500 to ฿50,000. A biological age test estimates how old your body functions, not how many birthdays you have had, and every result is read with a physician.

Not sure which test answers your question? The Discovery Consultation with Dr. Petch or Dr. First is complimentary.

The 8 terms, in one sentence each

Biological age

An estimate of how old your body's cells and systems actually function, which can be older or younger than your birthday age.

DNA

The molecule in your cells that carries your genetic instructions: the blueprint your body is built and run from.

Epigenetics

The study of chemical marks on your DNA that switch genes on or off without changing the DNA code itself.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS)

A test that reads your entire genetic code, all ~3 billion letters of your DNA, instead of a selected set of markers.

Telomere length

The length of the protective caps on the ends of your chromosomes, used as one clue to how your cells are aging.

Telomere in an epigenetic test

One of several biological clues combined together to estimate how fast your body is aging overall.

TruAge

A specific test that estimates your biological age from chemical markers on your DNA.

TruDiagnostic

The laboratory company that makes and runs the TruAge test.

What is biological age?

Two people born the same year do not age at the same speed. Biological age puts a number on that difference. It is not a measure of how you feel: it is an estimate built from molecular data, usually DNA methylation, compared with thousands of people whose health was followed over years.

The first widely used epigenetic clock was published by Steve Horvath in 2013 (Genome Biology), from 353 methylation sites across 51 tissue and cell types. Newer clocks no longer predict only your age: DunedinPACE (Belsky et al., eLife, 2022) estimates your pace of aging, in biological years per calendar year. A score of 1.0 means one biological year per calendar year; below 1.0 indicates slower-than-average aging.

DNA vs epigenetics: the code and the switches

Your DNA is the code you were born with. It does not change, so a DNA test is read once: it tells your physician which nutrients, which training and which inherited risks deserve early attention.

Epigenetics is how that code is used. Methylation marks switch genes on and off and respond to sleep, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol and stress. Because they move, an epigenetic test is a baseline that is re-read, typically at twelve months, to see the direction of travel.

One sentence to remember: DNA answers "what was I born with?"; epigenetics answers "how fast am I aging right now?"

The tests compared — price, sample, turnaround

Every result is read with a physician. The full menu, with every inclusion, is on the check-up menu; the tests can also be added to a health check-up.

TruAge and TruDiagnostic: what EPISPAN measures

TruDiagnostic is a U.S. laboratory company that develops and runs DNA-methylation tests. TruAge is its biological age test. At Healthi Life, TruAge COMPLETE is offered as EPISPAN: one 3 mL blood draw, analysed by TruDiagnostic, results in 40–45 days, with scores including:

• OMICmAge: your overall biological age against your chronological age.
• SYMPHONYAge: a separate age for 11 organ systems (blood, brain, heart, hormones, immune system, inflammation, kidney, liver, lung, metabolism, musculoskeletal).
• DunedinPACE: your pace of aging, biological years per calendar year.
• Telomere length report, one data point among several.
• Immune age and inflammation score (the inflammation score draws on methylation-based estimates of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6).
• Epigenetic biomarkers, physical fitness estimate, alcohol impact and smoking impact scores.

Your physician sets the baseline, builds the plan around the organ systems aging fastest, then re-reads it at twelve months.

Telomere length: the standalone test vs the clue inside TruAge

The two are often confused. They measure the same structure in two different ways, for two different purposes.

• Standalone telomere test (฿9,500). The length of the protective caps on your chromosomes is measured directly from blood by PCR, results in 7–10 days. It answers one question: how long are my telomeres compared with people my age?
• Telomere inside an epigenetic test. TruAge reports telomere length as one data point among several, combined into an overall estimate of how fast your body is aging. Telomere length can be estimated from DNA methylation, a method published by Lu et al. (Aging, 2019).

If biological age is your question, the epigenetic test is the broader answer. If telomeres themselves are your question, the standalone test is the direct one.

Whole genome sequencing vs a targeted DNA test

A targeted DNA test reads a selected set of genetic markers, chosen because research links them to a risk or a trait. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) reads everything: all ~3 billion letters of your DNA. Your genome does not change, so it is read once.

At Healthi Life, Premium DNA (฿22,900) is based on whole genome sequencing: saliva or cheek swab, 140+ reports across 10 categories, read with your physician. It is also included in the Longevity Blueprint check-up, with genetic counselling before and after.

Which test should you choose?

• "I want one number to track." BIOAGE, ฿15,000. Re-measure at twelve months.
• "I want to know which organs to work on." EPISPAN (TruAge COMPLETE), ฿35,000: 11 organ ages and pace of aging.
• "I want to know what I was born with." Premium DNA (whole genome sequencing), ฿22,900.
• "I want both." Premium DNA + TruAge COMPLETE, ฿50,000.
• "My question is cellular aging only." Telomere Length, ฿9,500.

Frequently asked questions