Home DNA Analysis

Home DNA-testing kits are readily available at drugstores as of 2010. But many experts question the validity of such tests as there are no current regulations governing the companies selling them. DNA testing checks everything from paternity of a child to genetic vulnerabilities to certain diseases, so accuracy of results is important.

Paternity Testing

• Paternity testing kits can be bought at local drug stores. The kit itself costs anywhere from $25 to a few hundred dollars. Lab fees are not always included in the initial cost. Swabs are provided to swab the child's and father's mouths for DNA. This DNA is sent to a laboratory and results are available within a few days. The accuracy of such tests depends on the company itself. According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Medical Correspondent at CNN, these companies are not regulated so results can be questionable. Some companies use laboratories accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). Such laboratories are regulated by the AABB and have met specific standards for accuracy and service. To receive court admissible results, the kit user has to follow certain procedures to verify the identity of the father.

Vulnerability to Disease

• Kits testing genetic predisposition to disease vary from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Currently there is no regulation for companies selling such tests. California and New York have sent "cease and desist" orders to many genetic testing companies stating licenses are necessary to solicit DNA samples from consumers. But companies work around these orders by sampling DNA in other states or hiring in-house doctors to approve analyses as valid medical tests. Gupta sampled four such tests to assess his results. The tests came back with varying results. One test indicated he was vulnerable to Crohn's disease while another said he was only minimally at risk.

Ancestry Analysis

• Tests checking for genetic markers for ancestry vary from $100 to $1,000. Many experts, including scientists, sociologists, and bioethicists, agree that test results can be misleading. Different tests utilize different methods. Some trace maternal lineage using mitochondrial DNA while Y-chromosome tests track paternal ancestry. But such tests only track one bloodline and cannot accurately pinpoint where the ancestors lived.

Problems with At Home Testing

• Testing for genetic vulnerability to disease is problematic due to a lack of expert evaluation of such results. A positive result for a particular mutation does not mean an individual will develop that particular disease. Also, different genes can contribute to the development of some diseases such as heart disease. Many of these genes have yet to be identified. Expert evaluation of results is necessary for thorough interpretation of genetic testing results.

Regulations

• There are no current regulations standardizing procedures for at-home DNA testing companies. Privacy concerns are an issue with such companies. According to the New York Times, there are concerns over companies utilizing DNA for research purposes. According to Lori B. Andrews, a professor at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, only 11 states currently require companies to obtain consent before testing someone's DNA.