You may have seen the commercials and the online ads during holiday gift shopping for at home DNA testing or have heard of it from a coworker who received one as a birthday gift. DNA testing grew popular due to its benefits and ability to trace your heritage back 1000 years.
Your ethnic background and history of your ancestors aren’t the only charming aspects of DNA testing. It has also shown to be incredibly beneficial to prevent diseases that can be inherited to your child and learn about your genetic markers.
DNA testing was first heard of through forensic science and paternity tests to find the identity of the biological father. Luckily, companies all around the world have found an easy way to do your own DNA testing at home by creating a kit to collect a saliva sample by spitting in a tube or doing a cheek swab. After 3 or 5 weeks, the company will send you your DNA results.
Here are the reasons why people choose to do a DNA test at home.
Do it in the comfort of your own home
Buying a testing kit from the drugstore or having it delivered online makes the process of doing a DNA test easy and at your own pace. If you decide to do it at your doctor’s office, it could take months to receive the result, as they will have another sample to test at the lab.
Doing an at home paternity test is also safer in uncertain times or during a global pandemic such as the coronavirus, where you shouldn’t be in contact with others to avoid getting sick.
At home testing companies offer a variety of options
DNA testing companies provide kits and packages based on your needs. If you would like to do a DNA test to enjoy the knowledge of your ethnic history, you can purchase a kit specifically for that option.
Companies also offer a package to learn about your health and ancestors to make decisions for the future to continue living in a healthy body, as well as saving your DNA sample for advanced testing once it becomes available.
Less expensive and less fees
The price of DNA testing is often what sets people back from enjoying the benefits of it, and that is why companies now allow consumers to learn everything they need to know by doing it at home.
DNA testing can be done by purchasing an at home testing kit online or through a drugstore or by going to a doctor, what separates such testing is the overall cost. DNA testing done at the doctor’s office is comprehensive and comes with counseling, and that leads to the price to rise higher due to the additional services, lab testing fees, and having to pay for your doctor visit.
At home testing kits cuts off all of the additional costs and companies regularly promote free shipping for their customers, and that leaves us with only paying for the cost of the actual DNA test.