Are Home DNA Kits Accurate?
Home DNA kits have emerged as a popular choice, but do they live up to the hype? The answer may surprise you.
With 99.9% accuracy, Health Street's home DNA Kits offer genetic testing with the same high accuracy as our legal tests. Home DNA tests are ideal for peace of mind. For legal proceedings, a legal paternity test is more fitting.
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How Home Kits Work
Considering the different types of DNA tests available? We're here to guide you through how DNA testing works. We'll send the kit. You simply receive the kit, follow the (easy) instructions, use a cheek swab to collect the DNA specimen, and you're done! Send it back for testing performed with the same DNA test accuracy as those done at clinics.
The only difference between home DNA kits and legal paternity tests is their acceptance in court. If you don't intend to use your results for legal purposes, an at-home test is just as accurate.
Factors Influencing Accuracy
While DNA test accuracy is high, there are some precautions you can take to make sure the DNA analysis goes smoothly. Here's how to avoid degrading the quality of a DNA sample:
Health Street Professional Testing
Our state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with the latest technology, ensuring that whether you're using our home DNA kits or in-person services, the results stand up to the highest standards of accuracy.
Discover the gold standard in DNA testing with Health Street. Our staff has expertise spanning from simple cheek swabs to complex DNA extractions from hair, nails, and other specimens. Visit a DNA collection clinic or order a home DNA kit.
Specialty Testing: Post-mortem and Prenatal
From the dawn of life to its closing chapters, Health Street is your trusted companion with specialized DNA testing.
Expectant parents can turn to our Prenatal DNA Test. Women as early as seven weeks into pregnancy can confidently get answers without any risks to the fetus. This relationship test involves a simple blood draw from the mother's arm and a cheek swab from the father.
For families looking for answers about the relationship of a departed loved one, our post-mortem DNA can help. Trust Health Street to be by your side with our expertise.
Beyond the Cheek Swab: Alternative DNA Testing Methods
If the alleged father is unavailable or unwilling to provide a cheek swab, alternative DNA collection methods such as fingernails, toothbrushes, bodily fluids, or other items can sometimes be used. If the item has viable DNA, it can be compared to another person's cheek swab to determine their relationship. However, viable DNA can't always be extracted from alternative DNA testing methods. Cheek swabs are recommended if possible.
Making the Right Choice: Home vs. Professional Testing
So, home or professional genetic testing? If you're just after peace of mind, home DNA kits can provide that. For legal matters, professional services are the way to go. The deciding factor is usually how you intend to use the results.
For reliable genetic results, consider a home DNA testing kit or visit the nearest Health Street collection site. Together, we choose precision and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are the home DNA kits?
Health Street's home DNA Kits are 99.9 percent accurate, but note that home DNA results are not admissible in court.
What can cause a home DNA test to be wrong?
While it is rare for a home DNA test to receive a false positive, sometimes a DNA specimen may not contain viable DNA for extraction. We recommend following the kit instructions to avoid contamination that can affect the quality of DNA.
How accurate is a mouth swab DNA test?
Our mouth swab tests are 99.9% accurate.
