Personalized DNA Testing Kits Become Widely Available
For sale online, in drugstores, and everywhere soon
Personal genetic testing kits are becoming available in drugstores online. While the basic test only costs a few dollars, more complex analysis can run into the hundreds of dollars to get information on different factors that may be present in your genetic profile.
How does the test work? Also called a "spit kit," you swab saliva from your cheek and send the kit back to a lab. After that, your DNA sample is analyzed and you get a report for ancestry and risk factors for diseases like Alzheimers. Currently, the only seller of over the counter tests to drugstores is Pathway Genomics, but in the future other genetics labs may start offering genetics test kits for sale to consumers. Other internet sites already offer DNA paternity and ancestry testing, but the genomics tests are seen as potenital tools for understanding whether you may be susceptible to certain conditions including alcoholism.
Notes and Special Information
Special note: Some medical professionals caution that a personal genetic test kit may not give you enough information, or may be impersonal. A personal analysis of your genetic profile and disease risk factors can be stressful without the proper information from a trained professional.