DNA or genetic testing can support the accurate diagnosis of more than 2000 inherited or genetic conditions. Some of the needed test kits are available to be used at home. Note that you don’t need a doctor’s recommendation to use a home DNA test kit. Here are essential facts about at-home DNA testing that you should know.
At-home DNA test kits are available in most mainstream pharmacies and online. Their prices range from a few hundred dollars to a thousand dollars. In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first DNA testing kit related to inherited medical conditions. Generally, people who use DNA test kits at home normally sent a saliva sample to an accredited laboratory and then wait for the DNA results. Keep in mind that a positive result does not always mean the disease will occur. Some health conditions usually develop if triggered by various environmental factors.
How do They Work?
Once you buy the DNA test kit, you are supposed to salivate or spit into a clean container. You must send the sample directly to an accredited laboratory for in-depth analysis. With some DNA test kits, you need to attend a certified clinic to offer a blood sample instead of the saliva sample. The pack usually contains a prepaid envelope to ensure seamless submission of the sample to be tested.
A trained lab technician or pathologist can perform the right test at an equipped medical laboratory to detect whether the sample contains various genetic features that are likely to increase or cause the risk of a specific health condition. It is possible for you to obtain your DNA results online or via phone. An expert in genetics may sometimes be available to help you understand your results.
A professional’s explanation may be necessary because if there is a family member with a certain health condition that may be inherited or is genetic in nature, like breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, the pathologist can help you understand the chances of having the same disease. If the lab technician or pathologist tells you that you are at risk of developing such an illness, they can also help you learn various preventive measures.
It is essential to mention that DNA tests can help reveal a lot of information about a broad range of health conditions that may result from genetic mutations. Accumulating scientific evidence suggests that a mutation can be passed on through parents in the inherited gene and can also occur at conception when sperm meets a female egg during fertilization.
Most medical laboratories often test for various genetic conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, Bloom syndrome, late-onset of Alzheimer’s disease, blood clotting disorder, Gaucher disease type 1, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, hereditary hemochromatosis, early-onset primary dystonia, and more. These are some of the genetic health conditions, and a DNA test can help figure out if you are at risk of developing such chronic illnesses.
Some of these health conditions are very serious. Before you perform the DNA test, it is essential to note that the results could lead to anxiety. This is why it is always recommended to understand that positive results do not always mean that you will definitely develop the illness. As mentioned earlier, most of these chronic health conditions only develop if triggered by lifestyle or environmental factors.
For example, coronary heart disease can be inherited. However, smoking, poor diet, and an inactive lifestyle can increase the risk of this illness. Even when a DNA test result shows that you are at a high risk of developing any of the illnesses mentioned above, a professional health care provider can help you take the right preventive measures to reduce your risk of developing the illness.
Keep in mind that over the years, various experts have raised ethical issues regarding DNA testing. To begin with, DNA tests can be very expensive, and interested consumers must be sure of what they are getting into. Additionally, widespread regulation is required to make sure that the DNA tests performed are very accurate and prevent any information involving misleading marketing.
It is essential to make sure that you’re getting at-home genetic testing services from an accredited lab with an excellent reputation for providing accurate results. The last thing you want is to get the wrong DNA information that gives you hope of tracing your ancestry or even determining various illnesses you may be at risk of developing. These are serious issues that require accurate genetic testing information to make a conclusion, which is why it is recommended to only get DNA testing services from reputable service providers.
Whether you intend to perform at-home genetic testing or get the test performed in a healthcare facility, the choice is up to you. The most important thing is that you must choose a reputable facility that resonates with your budget.
