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Original poster

Anyone used a home DNA testing kit?

18 replies

chipmunkswhereareyou · 02/12/2008 19:51

How was it?
How much did it cost and was it apparently reliable?

Not for ds but for my own paternity with my alleged father.
I doubt I'd get his permission so would have to nick a snotty hanky, used toothbrush or hairs - it seems you can do this these days.

OP posts:
DippyDino · 02/12/2008 22:22

Doesn't work that way - you need cells collected by using a mouth swab from the company. I think we paid £250, but this was a few years ago. I believe it was reliable, it was a repeated test using 16 genetic loci (please don't ask me what it means!)
Have you checked his and your blood types, e.g. it may be impossible for someone of his blood type to be the biological father of someone who has your bloodtype (sorry can't be more help there, I'm not very sciency!)

I really would try to get his permission, otherwise it aint going to happen.

Ask yourself why it matters? Is this guy a waste of space, in which case who cares if he's not your dad- phew! On the other hand, if he is your Dad and you love each other then biology is irrelevant, it's the quality of the relationship that counts.

Good luck.

Original poster
chipmunkswhereareyou · 02/12/2008 22:35

According to a couple of websites you can use other material e.g. hairs - I had thought you couldn't too.
But I don't know how reputable these
companies are.

Blood test thing is a good idea. I think I was a relatively unusual one - dh probably remembers better than me. I doubt my parents would know what type they are though...

OP posts:
ToughDaddy · 03/12/2008 20:54

Obviously you are not in a position to ask your mom?

Original poster
chipmunkswhereareyou · 03/12/2008 21:17

I have and she says she doesn't know...... She doesn't seem the type (as much as you can tell) but apparently her and the dad I grew up with were having an affair whilst she was still married to her first h.

OP posts:
ToughDaddy · 03/12/2008 21:30

Do you have a suspicion based on resemblance?

Original poster
chipmunkswhereareyou · 03/12/2008 22:01

I've no idea what husband number one looks like.

My aunt thinks it's husband number one though.

However, I do look a fair bit like my half brother (or step brother depending on the answer!)

OP posts:
ToughDaddy · 03/12/2008 22:10

Apparently this is relatively common but many never find out. I understand why you are curious though.

Original poster
chipmunkswhereareyou · 04/12/2008 12:56

Yes there was some survey or study which suggested a suprisingly high % of people's fathers aren't who they think they are too.

It's weird not knowing e.g. whether my brothers are half siblings or step brothers. Whether ds's cousins are actually biologically related or not. I have a wonderful relationship with all of them and I know that matters more but it's still somewhat important to me to find out at some stage. I just don't want to upset anyone in the process and don't think 'dad' would understand so hence the sneaky method. That way I could keep the answer to myself if it isn't him.

OP posts:
ToughDaddy · 04/12/2008 21:05

I don't think anyone could deny you the right to know. Good of you to adopt a sensitive approach but go for it whilst you can.

Original poster
chipmunkswhereareyou · 04/12/2008 23:16

I've realised that it's important that I know but I don't want to rock the boat and upset them by raking up the past and turning their worlds' upside down too. Hence wanting to find out subtly. It sounds a bit underhand but actually it's to save their upset, especially if it is husband no. 1 not 'dad'.

OP posts:
DoNotsAntlers · 04/12/2008 23:23

Firstly you have to consider if there are an ethical or legal implications of doing this (I don't know the answer for sure but suspect that taking a biological sample for DNA analysis requires consent).

On a technical level the problem is that it is incredibly easy to cross contaminate DNA samples anyway.

You have to be 100% sure that the samples are purely from the persons DNA you are testing (your father). If you are taking abuccal swab (mouth) you have to wear gloves and stuff to ensure that the person taking it does not contaminate the sample in any way.

Things get even tricker when you are talking about taking a hair sample/toothbrush sample/saliva off a glass...So you would have to take a hair from a brush which only he ever handled (your mothers DNA could be on - even if she doesn't use it to brush her hair).....

I just want to warn you of the technical risk of trying to do it subtley.

Original poster
chipmunkswhereareyou · 05/12/2008 16:50

DoNots- that's very helpful and you obviously know a lot about this. I think I need to rethink this don't I as it sounds like some of the companies on the internet are making out that doing this sort of covert sample taking is more reliable than it is.

Thanks - do you work in that field?

OP posts:
DoNotsAntlers · 05/12/2008 17:15

Not directly. But I do work with DNA in a very different context (hence my name!)

I don't know the exact odds of cross contamination are to be able to quote stats. I just know how incredibly easy it is to cross contaminate my own work - and I am sure that I have seen scientific articles which discuss this being a significant problem.

These companies are likely to be driven by teh fact that their customers have seen Silent witness and such like and can obtain a perfect trace from sweat cells on a glass. Unfortunately it doesn't quite work like that - even in a forensic setting - and these companies are no-where near the quality you would get from forensics.

Original poster
chipmunkswhereareyou · 05/12/2008 19:42

The cynical side of me thinks they are taking advantage of people who are often in a difficult situation e.g. desperate to know the paternity of their child.

OP posts:
DoNotsAntlers · 05/12/2008 20:08

I am not saying that it is not possible to get a reliable result.

I was just trying to highlight the very real possibility that you will not get a conclusive result in the covert manner you describe - thats all.

Original poster
chipmunkswhereareyou · 05/12/2008 20:13

That's still a very good warning as if it's not conclusive I'm not sure there's much point...

OP posts:
Seabright · 05/12/2008 20:15

You can sometimes tell from eye colour, as blue eyes are the result of ressesive genes and brown eyes are the result of dominant genes.

See this part of the BBC website for a better explaination than I can give (it's been a long time since I learned how to do it for my O level biology - wonder how many of my fellow students had a sudden realisation that their father couldn't be who they thought it was?)
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/21c/genes/genesandinheritancerev5.shtml

DoNotsAntlers · 05/12/2008 20:38

You cannot tell paternity from eye colour

It is a myth that eye colour of parents and children alone can be used to determine paternity. Eye coour can be used - but it has to be based on data from teh extended family. Just search the threads on MN to show that.

Blood group can be used (as has been described in this thread).

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