DNA Testing – In the last few years, genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, has gained more popularity than any other type of testing.
Most people opting for DNA testing in countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and other Western countries have been using it for paternity testing.
At the same time, healthcare experts around the world have also started suggesting everyone go with DNA testing as it can help you identify any genetic condition.
You might already be aware most diseases in the world are more common in some communities. There might be a disease that is more common in Asian or European heritage. That is why a huge number of people have also opted for DNA testing to rule out any genetic condition.
Today we are here to help you understand everything regarding DNA testing. We will discuss how you can effectively use it to prevent several diseases.
What is DNA Testing?
DNA testing is a unique way to diagnose several diseases before they even appear. At the same time, you can also use DNA tests for paternity testing.
DNA testing has been gaining more popularity in Western countries where a huge number of people have open relations. These tests are highly accurate, and They are also used by police around the world.
Similar to any other thing in the world, DNA testing also has some limitations. For example, a healthy person might get diagnosed with Lung cancer which might not even appear in the next 30 or 40 years.
Different Types of DNA Testing?
As you might already be aware, DNA testing can be used for a huge number of things. That is why healthcare experts have divided DNA testing into two different Categories.
First of all, DNA testing is used for diagnostic purposes. Several diseases, including cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease, are known to cause genetic changes. These types of diseases might not appear in any other diagnostic test.
Secondly, your healthcare expert might suggest you go for DNA testing if your healthcare provider believes you have any family history of genetic conditions. DNA testing is much more capable of preventing the probability of different genetic diseases than any other type of test.
Thirdly, people who are struggling with chronic conditions might have to go for DNA testing as it is also capable of helping healthcare experts determine what type of medicine and doses will work.
Fourthly, DNA testing is also used for prenatal testing. Healthcare experts can even detect several types of abnormalities in your baby’s genes before it even starts development.
Is DNA Testing Safe to Take?
Yes, DNA testing is completely safe to take. These types of tests do not cause any physical risk. For example, any blood and cheek swab DNA testing has almost no risk.
Health experts around the world believe that any person, even an immunocompromised person, can also opt for DNA testing. However, when it comes to prenatal DNA testing, you should always consult with your healthcare provider.
These types of tests are also known to cause miscarriage, and you should never opt for prenatal DNA testing if you do not have any family history of genetic disorders.
Most DNA tests are not cheap to take. There are several over-the-counter DNA tests available in the world, but they might not be as effective as story-based tests.
Before you opt for any type of DNA test, we highly recommend everyone consult it with their psychiatrist and family. DNA tests might come up with some interesting results that can hamper your emotional and social life.
Important things to Discuss before DNA Testing
DNA testing is not like any other disease testing in the world. You cannot simply wake up one day and get yourself tested for the same and hope for the best results.
Health experts around the world suggest everyone opt for DNA testing to gather information about their family. You should try to get as much information as possible from everyone in your family.
After that, you should consult with your healthcare provider. If your healthcare provider does not believe you require DNA testing, then there is no point opting for that.
DNA tests are not 100% accurate. Your DNA test might suggest that you can have lung cancer in the future, but it doesn’t mean that you will get diagnosed in your lifetime.
At the same time, If DNA tests have not predicted any chronic disease, it doesn’t mean that you will never get diagnosed with that.
People without any history of severe or chronic diseases should try to avoid DNA testing. It can cause an unnecessary financial and emotional burden.
Best Testing Kits for DNA Testing
There are different types of DNA testing kits available in the market. Some DNA tests focus on finding the heritage of a person, while some tests also focus on maternity.
We have collected some of the best testing kits for DNA testing available in the market. You can opt for the below-given list of DNA tests according to your needs.
There is only one drawback of DNA testing kits. You can not use these results in court or any legal process. For legal matters, you will have to take a DNA test in front of government officials.
Rapid DNA testing
Rapid DNA testing is probably one of the most popular paternity test kits available in the world. More than 900 people have rated the rapid DNA testing kit on Amazon, and it has more than a a4.5-starr rating.
This DNA test is going to cost you around $99 in the United States, and the company claims to provide results within two business days. It is very simple to take the test.
You have to purchase a test, and the company will deliver a test kit containing two different swabs. You will have to use one swab on yourself and one on your kid.
After that, you will have to send the samples to a nearby testing facility, and the company will provide the results within two days. One of the best parts about rapid DNA testing is that you don’t have to pay anything to send your samples. Sample shipping is completely free of cost, and the results are going to be confidential.
Express DNA Paternity Test Kit
Express DNA paternity test kit is another popular example of a DNA testing kit. You will have to pay around $99 for the whole test, and the company claims to have an accuracy of 99.99%.
Similar to its competitors, express DNA paternity test kits also claim to provide results within two business days, and your shipment of samples is also going to be completely free of cost.
One of the best parts about the express DNA paternity test kit is that it also provides video demonstrations that you can follow for a step-by-step guide to take the test.
Ancestry DNA
Ancestry DNA is probably one of the best DNA tests available in the world to Check your heritage. This test has more than a 4.5-star rating from 21,000 reviewers on Amazon.
You just have to pay $69 for the test, and you will be able to find out a lot about yourself. Similar to several other DNA tests in the market, it is completely free to ship your DNA sample To the nearby laboratory. In
The only drawback with heritage DNA testing is that you might not get results as fast as other types of DNA tests. These types of tests usually take 4 to 8 weeks to produce the results.
What is the Accuracy of these at-home DNA Testing Kits?
Before we wrap our session, let’s discuss the accuracy of at-home DNA testing kits.
You might get surprised to know that these at-home DNA testing kids are near to 100% effective and accurate. These companiescano generate 100% effective tests because you are not going to process the sample in your home.
Kindly do not mix the thought of a home COVID test or at-home pregnancy test with DNA testing kits. These test kits might also look like those, but they do not behave like that.
Till now, healthcare experts have not made any DNA test that can produce results without any sophisticated equipment.
These companies Will ask you to take samples and later send them to their nearby laboratories. These companies won’t allow you to process your results at home as you might not have the sophisticated equipment and the knowledge.
How much does DNA testing costs?
Different DNA tests have different pricing. For example, at-home paternity DNA testing is going to cost between $49 to $125. At the same time, genetic testing for chronic diseases is going to cost you around $200 or more.