Yahoo Health recently published an article informing consumers of an over-the-counter paternity test, Identigene. The kit itself costs $30 and contains a swab for collecting a sample of saliva. The swab is then sent to the Identigene DNA testing laboratories, processed for an additional $119 and the results of the paternity test are then mailed, or emailed to the consumer, or located on a secured Web site within 3 to 5 business days.
4,363 Rite Aid drug stores carry this new over-the-counter paternity test. New York is the only state that does not carry Identigene. "The paternity test kit is already a hit in California, Washington and Oregon states, where they have been selling on a trial basis since November, Identigene said." Identigene is popular with women who want to know their child, or children's father and folks seeking their biological parents.
This particular DNA test will not hold up as evidence in a court of law.
This idea is strange to me at first, but I think Identigene will make a lot of money off its product and this this DIY DNA test is just a look into our future of medicine and health care.
For more information visit http://health.yahoo.com/news/afp/ushealthdna_080326224747.html or go to your local Rite Aid and see your parents really are who they say they are :)
If the test won't hold up in the court of law then how do we actually know that the test is even acurate? It seems to me that people are trying to make their own answers to questions, but yet if you did use this at home test its really doesn't prove much, other than you wasted 30 dollars and you should of put it towards a real test.
I prefer to leave the scientific explainations to the experts and an at home test that can't be tested in the court of law seems to agree.