DNA and Paternity Testing: Home Tests
There have been a great deal of companies popping up that offer at home DNA and paternity testing. This means that just like every other industry there are going to be variances in standards. Just because it gets sent off to a lab doesn’t mean that all tests are created equal. This does not mean that the results are false. What it means is that the percentage in which they are correct is off. Before jumping on the bandwagon of the cheapest testing supplies, take a look at what they are truly testing.
The only way to do this is to look at how many markers are being tested against the DNA samples. The necessary amount to have a 90+% accuracy rating is 16 markers. This means that 16 different DNA components are tested in all three samples to see if there is a match. Another item that you should look for in a home test is whether or not the company has their own lab. This is a huge bonus in knowing that samples and results are sent to one place instead of multiple places. The possibilities of getting incorrect results or samples mixed up if a separate lab is used is a decent enough percentage to be concerned.
All home tests work the same. There are swabs for each member involved. The swabs are used to collect cell samples inside the cheek. These cells are filled with DNA. The swabs are put in sterilized envelopes and sent in to the company that you purchased the kit from. So the basic kit isn’t what you need to look at. It’s the other components involved. Another item to consider is that an over-the-counter test may only cost $30 in the store but charge an additional lab fee of $50 or more depending upon the type of test it is. Read the fine print.
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