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DIY DNA testing kits on sale. Good or Bad?

35 replies

GabbyLoggon · 03/02/2011 13:43

I think most progress has a plus and minus effect

I dont know the full implications of this

"Who,s the daddy?" was the headline in my paper

The whole caboodle kit and test seems to cost about £160

Anyone know more about it than me? Please tell.

    "gabby"
OP posts:
kepler10b · 03/02/2011 17:24

i guess adult children could use them if they have always had doubts.

TrillianAstra · 03/02/2011 17:26

Not convinced as to the accuracy.

MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 17:45

trillian - the test is done by the same company who is the court appointed tester under the same lab conditions.

They can be tempered with before hand but it will give you more confidence in the results.

Snorbs · 03/02/2011 18:53

Fair enough MrSpoc. But these tests are not admissible in court for the determination of paternity or for the purposes of qualification for CSA payments. So they couldn't be used for getting out of payment of anything.

Arneb · 03/02/2011 19:04

www.scq.ubc.ca/the-truth-about-chimeras/

"Most human chimeras, however, are not even aware of their conditions, because many of them appear completely normal. The most famous cases of chimerism to date are the linked cases of Lydia Fairchild and Karen Keegan. Fairchild was pregnant with her third child when she separated with her partner, James Townsend. In order to obtain state welfare, she had to prove that she was the biological mother of her two born children. It was discovered, through DNA testing, that it was impossible that she was the biological mother of her two children because she bore no genetic similarity to them whatsoever. A case of welfare fraud ensued because the prosecutors believed the DNA results to be irrefutable. Even the testimony of Dr. Leonard Dreisbach, the obstetrician who had helped Fairchild give birth, did little to persuade the court in Fairchild?s favor. The judge, perplexed by seemingly conflicting evidence, ordered that the third child, when born, to be tested as well. Surprisingly, the third child also showed no genetic similarities as well.

Fortunately for Fairchild, Karen Keegan also had similar experiences. Keegan needed a kidney transplant, and DNA testing for a compatible match with her two eldest sons showed that she had no genetic similarities to them at all. However, the doctors who worked with Keegan were familiar with the concept of chimerism and suggested that Keegan undergo further testing. Testing of her brothers and husband proved that her sons were related to them. Subsequent sampling of her skin and hair proved to be futile, but eventually matching DNA was found in her thyroid gland. It was the publication of this case, in the New England Journal of Medicine, which offered new insight on the case of Lydia Fairchild. Fairchild was found later on to be a chimera, with the second set of DNA found from her cervical smear. It was concluded that both Keegan and Fairchild were tetragametic chimeras.

These cases challenge the blind faith which the scientific community places on the irrefutability of DNA testing. "

So as well as the reliability of the actual test - percentage of false positives/negatives and the reliability of the lab - cross contamination chain of evidence ect also have to explain the rare cases where DNA may not match to people undergoing tests - as the consequences of getting things wrong is so huge.

I would have though the data obtained by testing and how to interpret the information ( think it expressed as statistical probability) and its reliability and any implications to parents and DC would best be handled via counselling. Still I have never had the kind of lifestyle that would require this kind of testing ( despite what my MIL has occasionally tried to suggest despite all evidence to contrary)

Arneb · 03/02/2011 19:04

www.scq.ubc.ca/the-truth-about-chimeras/

Long post and still not got link right Blush.

kepler10b · 04/02/2011 10:15

i think a lot of peole are going to make noises about the accuracy because they have something to hide and fear these tests increase the chance of that being exposed.

JeremyKyleResearcher · 13/04/2011 12:20

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cantpooinpeace · 13/04/2011 12:39

Mr Hill can I have tickets to watch a show please?

JeremyKyleResearcher · 13/04/2011 13:09

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