Testing
How to find out your dog's MDR1 status
Breed only tells you the odds. A DNA test tells you the fact. There are three sensible routes — one focused lab test and two consumer kits that include MDR1 in a broader panel.
Honest disclosure.When our affiliate partnerships with the consumer DNA-test companies go live, we may earn a referral fee if you buy through our link — it never changes your price. We earn nothing from the WSU VCPL test, which we present on equal footing because it is the discovering laboratory and the citation anchor for this entire site. As of now those partnerships are not yet live, so the links below point to each company's own page.
| Embark | Wisdom Panel | WSU VCPL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDR1 (ABCB1) included | Yes | Yes | Yes — MDR1 is what they test |
| Scope | Breed + 250+ health conditions | Breed + health panel | MDR1 only (focused) |
| Price | ~$199 (verify current) | varies (verify current) | $70 |
| Sample | Cheek swab | Cheek swab | Cheek swab or blood |
| Vet required | No (consumer kit) | No (consumer kit) | Ordered through your vet or directly |
| Role | Consumer screening kit | Consumer screening kit | The lab that discovered the mutation |
| Link | Embark | Wisdom Panel | WSU (non-affiliate) |
Embark
consumer kit- MDR1 (ABCB1) included
- Yes
- Scope
- Breed + 250+ health conditions
- Price
- ~$199 (verify current)
- Sample
- Cheek swab
- Vet required
- No (consumer kit)
- Role
- Consumer screening kit
Wisdom Panel
consumer kit- MDR1 (ABCB1) included
- Yes
- Scope
- Breed + health panel
- Price
- varies (verify current)
- Sample
- Cheek swab
- Vet required
- No (consumer kit)
- Role
- Consumer screening kit
WSU VCPL
discovering lab · non-affiliate- MDR1 (ABCB1) included
- Yes — MDR1 is what they test
- Scope
- MDR1 only (focused)
- Price
- $70
- Sample
- Cheek swab or blood
- Vet required
- Ordered through your vet or directly
- Role
- The lab that discovered the mutation
WSU — MDR1 test pricing & sample types· verified June 16, 2026WSU PrIMe — How to order the MDR1 test· verified June 16, 2026
The WSU VCPL test is the focused, lowest-cost route and goes straight to the lab that discovered the mutation. The consumer kits cost more but bundle MDR1 into a wider breed-and-health panel, which suits owners who want the broader picture. There is no wrong choice — any of the three gives you the genotype you need.
This is general information, not veterinary advice for your dog. It does not diagnose or prescribe. Always discuss any medication decision with your veterinarian before acting — they know your dog's full picture, including its MDR1 status if it has been tested. See our disclaimer and how we research.