The Genetic Genealogist

You Can Now Buy a Genetic Test at Rite-Aid

November 28th, 2007 in DNA Companies, DNA in the News |

It’s not a whole-genome scan or a genetic genealogy test, but it’s still a DNA test from the drug store shelves. Soon you will be able to purchase a paternity test from Rite-Aid.

The test is being offered by Sorenson Genomics. According to an article from Monday’s New York Times:

“A company called Sorenson Genomics has started selling a paternity test kit through Rite Aid stores in California, Oregon and Washington. It appears to be the first time a DNA test is being sold through a major pharmacy chain.”

“The test, sold under the brand name Identigene, has a suggested list price of $29.99, though a reporter purchased one at a Rite Aid in Santa Monica, Calif., for $19.99. There is an additional laboratory fee of $119 to have the samples analyzed.”

The test comes with three sets of cotton swabs, allowing the collection of DNA from the child, alleged father, and the mother. The NYT article states that the mother’s DNA is optional “but helps strengthen the results.”

Discovering Biology in a Digital World asks: â€œWould the results from this test be legally binding?â€ I personally canâ€™t imagine that the results would hold up in court. I think thatâ€™s why Sorenson Genomics labels the test as giving â€œpeace of mind.â€ A commentor left the following from an news.aol.com business story: â€œThe kit advises people wanting to test for legal purposes to call the company and set up a chain of custody for the samples, which would cost an additional $20.â€ Hsien Lei from Eye on DNA also left a comment to the post, adding that home paternity tests are nothing new, which is absolutely true â€“ theyâ€™ve been around for a while. But now, for the first time, you can impulse shop, or pick one up on your way home from work.

There is more coverage at Eye on DNA and GenomeWeb.

4 Responses to “ You Can Now Buy a Genetic Test at Rite-Aid ”

# 1 The Misfit: a blog by a college student. Says:
November 30th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
You Can Now Buy a Genetic Test at Rite-Aid”Itâ€™s not a whole-genome scan or a genetic genealogy test, but itâ€™s still a DNA test from the drug store shelves. Soon you will be able to purchase a paternity test from Rite-Aid. The test is being offered by Sorenson Genomics. According to an
# 2 Sandwalk Says:
December 17th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
George Church on Personal Genomics]. The posting is on Epidemix. Bertalan MeskÃ³ weighs in with an opinion on ScienceRoll [Personalized Genetics: Back to the Personal Genome Project ]. Maybe we should all be worried sinceYou Can Now Buy a Genetic Test at Rite-Aid. One of the problems with personalized genetic testing is that it might reveal something you don’t want to know. Matt Mealiffe of DNA and You asks Who’s your daddy?. What if you learn that you have a pre-disposition to cancer, or something worse?
# 3 StumbleUpon » Your page is now on StumbleUpon! Says:
November 29th, 2007 at 9:47 am
[...] Your page is on StumbleUpon [...]
# 4 Christopher Says:
March 14th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
I was wondering for this test since u have three sets of swobbs(father, mother, and child). And mother is optional. Do you all have anyone witness this proceedings? What if the father swabbs his mouth and his 4 year old son could you tell? For example, a guy just did this test and we all think he didn’t turn the 17 year female swabs in. Can you all tell the difference from a 17 year old female swab and 4 year old male swab? The results came back on email as 99.99% that the child was his. So you all send the results back through email vice certified mail? What all comes in the DNA package?

You Can Now Buy a Genetic Test at Rite-Aid

4 Responses to “ You Can Now Buy a Genetic Test at Rite-Aid ”

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