Home DNA test kits are often called “direct-to-consumer” DNA tests, since they do not require a doctor’s authorization to purchase or use.  Different states have different regulations regarding their purchase, so one of the first steps you need to take is to make sure that the test you want is available for the area you live.

Next you need to look at what is included in the pricing.  You may be caught up $99 offers for home DNA test kits, but you need to make sure that what you are purchasing not only includes the testing equipment but also the testing results.  If not, that kit will become useless to you unless you are willing to shell out often hundreds of dollars more in money to find out what the results are.

Finally, for any all home DNA test kits you need to use sensible precautions when it comes to interpreting the results you receive.  For example, there are many different environmental, behavior and social influences on disease, and if you are taking a test for genetic predisposition for disease you should be sure that the company (or another source) provides reliable information on how to interpret your results given this complexity.  It is because of the difficulty in understanding genetic results that many states and countries ban the use of over the counter home DNA test kits.  If you have questions that the DNA test kit company cannot answer, you should go to your family practitioner or a genetic specialist to get more information.

If you are interested in learning more about home DNA test kits, including information about paternity testing kits, please return to the Legal DNA Paternity Testing information website.

First, if you are screening for genetic diseases, you should understand that home DNA testing kits need to be considered in conjunction with many other factors that influence the development of many diseases tested for in home DNA testing kits.  There are a range of environmental, social and behavior factors that can influence disease along with genetic factors.

Second, if you are interested in home DNA testing kits for paternity, you should know that although these tests are highly reliable and may be the best choice in many circumstances, but the results from these test are not admissible in court.  For a court ordered paternity test, or to use the results in any court proceedings or to provide as evidence to government welfare agencies, you will need to have legal DNA paternity testing done.

Finally, although there are a variety of excellent laboratories that sell affordable home DNA testing kits online, you should always compare prices between companies for these tests, being sure the prices include both the DNA testing kit and laboratory results.  Home DNA testing kits generally range in price from a couple of hundred dollars up to several hundred dollars.

By carefully comparing prices of online laboratories and keeping these cautionary points in mind, you should be able to get some answers to pressing questions you have regarding paternity, genetics, ancestry and more.

You can find more information about home DNA testing kits on the Legal DNA Paternity Testing homepage

With a home DNA paternity test kit, you will have the advantage of keeping your DNA testing for paternity confidential and discrete.  A home DNA paternity test is ideal for individuals who wish to do a paternity test but do not want to create undo tension, especially if the results do not conflict with what is expected.

An at home DNA paternity test kit can easily be purchased online (often the best deal), or over the counter in certain pharmacies.  You will be able to choose between a buccal swab DNA paternity test or a hair home DNA paternity test.  With the buccal swab kit, a cotton like swab is rubbed on the inside of the mouth of the individuals being tested, while with a hair DNA paternity test three or more pieces of hair are needed (entire lengths of hair from head, public or other regions are acceptable, but these hair pieces must contain the root portion – cut hair will not suffice).  With DNA testing for paternity kits, the possible father, child, and sometimes the biological mother are tested, and results are available from one to three weeks depending on the test kit provider.

Legal DNA paternity testing is the best route to go if you are involved in legal motions involving child custody and support.  A legal DNA paternity test (or a court ordered paternity test) differ from home DNA paternity tests in that there is a third, impartial witness to the testing process involved, and some courts may require that the mother be tested as well as the presumed father and child.

With a legal DNA paternity test, the testing process will be monitored by a witness and the final results will be notarized and can be submitted as evidence in court or to appropriate government or state agencies (be sure, however, to check what the legal requirements are for the state you live in, since this can vary).

Home DNA paternity test kits tend to be a bit more cheaper than legal DNA paternity testing.  An at home DNA paternity test usually runs less than $300, while a court ordered or legal DNA paternity test can cost up to $500.

DNA testing for paternity can be a very emotionally charged process.  Careful thought and choice should be given as to which variety of DNA testing for paternity is right given the circumstances at hand.  For more information about DNA testing for paternity, please visit the Legal DNA Paternity Testing website.

DNA home tests that are marketed directly to consumers are legal in about half the states in the United States, although they are banned in many European countries.  One of the dangers of home DNA tests is that for the tests looking at genetic disease predisposition, the individual taking the test may not fully understand how such diseases are also influenced by a range of environmental, social, behavioral and genetic factors.  As a result, they may  falsely conclude they have more or less risk for a disease based on the results of home DNA tests.

This is one of the main reasons so many states and European countries have banned the use of home DNA tests.  But also, many of the companies that sell home DNA test kits have an interest in marketing and selling individuals supplements to improve your health based on your results, and there is serious concern that the commercial interests of many of these companies may be influencing the information and the manner they relate to consumers who use at home DNA tests.

There is, however, at least one major advantage to using an home DNA tests: privacy concerns.  Although you need to read the fine print regarding privacy and disclosure for any company you purchase a home DNA test from, the desire to keep the results private is one major motivating factor for many consumers.

Recently the American Societies of Human Genetics made some recommendations regarding how to best ascertain and use at home DNA tests.  They suggest that you carefully read the privacy policy for the company to ascertain who confidential the results will be and if there will be any risk to your insurance if there are negative results.  The company should be able to tell you in plain language how predictive and scientifically valid their results are, especially in comparison to other disease risk factors.  The company should also have some policy regarding how to deal with the emotional consequences of a result showing predisposition to diseases. And finally, the laboratory should be certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988.

As common sense always suggests, however, with any home DNA test that you are purchasing online or elsewhere, be sure to read the fine print and make sure the tests come from high quality labs with a national reputation.

For more information about home DNA paternity test kits, please return to the Legal DNA Paternity Testing homepage.