Truth or Myth: How Accurate Are Home DNA Test Kits?

5 mins read

The popularity of at-home DNA testing is soaring in popularity and uses. When someone seeks information about paternity or genetic diseases without visiting a doctor’s chamber or laboratory, the best alternative is the at-home DNA test kit. Unless and until the paternity tests are not for legal cases, at-home test kits are an ideal choice. The question which concerns everyone is, ‘are home DNA test kits accurate?’. Selecting an at-home home DNA test kit is overwhelming, but it is reliable in terms of accuracy. 

Working Mechanism of At-Home DNA Testing

At-home DNA test kits allow the collection of required samples in the comfort of homes. Most home kits help to prove the paternity of a child. The test demands inner cheek swabs from the man (potential biological father) and waits for the results to arrive by mail or secure online account. The easy accessibility of at-home DNA test kits at online and local drug stores makes at-home testing so rampant in the USA. 

Most home kits require cheek swabs for samples as it is an easy, painless, and non-invasive method. Some kits request sample materials like hair follicles, fingernails, toenails, saliva, semen, etc. The samples collected via at-home test kits are sent to specific laboratories for genetic analysis and testing. At-home DNA testing requires the individual to register online and pay the laboratory for the testing. The benefits of using at-home kits are the answer to the doubts and concerns people have.

User-Friendly Functioning

One of the advantages of considering at-home DNA test kits is their simple functioning. The test is so simple that anyone at home can conduct it DIY or with a partner. Depending on the brand of the testing kit, sample materials need to be collected. Most at-home DNA test kits include oral swabs for cheek swab collection. It indicates that a person doesn’t have to visit the laboratory for painful blood sampling or other methods. The kits come with step-by-step instructions, making at-home testing simple and efficient.

High Accuracy

With the advancement in science and technology, the accuracy of at-home test kits is significantly increasing. Several home kits claim a 99% accuracy level. Similar to laboratory genetic testing, the at-home test kits require the samples to go through 21 genetic marker tests and stick with the international standards of DNA testing. It is the reason modern at-home DNA test kits are highly accurate. At-home test kits are popular for paternity screening and demand samples from the alleged father and the child. 

Quicker Results

There is nothing more frustrating than waiting for the paternity test results. It is nerve-racking till the results reveal that an individual has parental responsibility towards a kid. The good thing about at-home DNA test kits is that there are no long queues for test results like laboratory screening. Most test results are released within 3 to 5 days. Quicker results don’t hamper the accuracy level of home tests because they abide by international testing standards.

Highly Flexible

A complete lab-grade DNA screening is expensive, and only some have the budget. It is one of the many reasons why at-home DNA testing is ideal for those looking for cost-effective, faster, flexible, and more accurate results. It is advisable to check local areas for testing facilities and providers that send DNA screening kits directly at home. Most at-home DNA kits include a free additional kit for collecting the mother’s DNA sample in case of paternity testing. The home kit providers’ flexibility is another reason people prefer at-home testing rather than visiting laboratories.

Conclusion

At-home DNA test kits are highly accurate even though they are unaccepted in court proceedings. Studies show that in paternity testing, the accuracy rate is 99%. Cheek swabs and saliva samples are the most accurate out of all sample materials. Hence, most home testing kits prefer saliva and cheek swabs for precise results. If an individual is concerned about whether he should take the at-home DNA screening, the answer is flexibility, user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and accuracy levels are worth mentioning.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Story

The link between oral health and overall body health

Next Story

FD-AID, LLC Announces Expansion of Services to India’s Pharmaceutical Sector