lifestyle

Home DNA kits: What to know about it

The matter of DNA testing became national back in 2019 when Kakamega twins Sharon Mathias and Melon Lutenyo sought to find out if they were blood sisters.

The two identical girls were being raised by different families who were shocked by the discovery of the physical similarities between the girls.

The matter has once again gained traction after the cost and availability of the kit became news on Monday, January 9.

Home DNA testing kit is the latest vocabulary taking Kenya by storm.

The revelation that it will cost sh800 to buy the kit elicited a sharp reaction.

Medics are however setting the record straight.

According to KEMRI, the sh800 is just to collect the sample.

Users will have to pay much more to have that sample tested in a laboratory.

The costs range from 10k to 12k, even upto sh25k in a facility, and could be more expensive in a private facility.

The results are confidential.The results are available in about 3-10 business days depending on the complexity of the case.

You have to provide info about the number of children being tested.

Also, this applies to the number of men in question. this pushes your cost even higher.

You will need to provide your email and phone number.

DNA tests can be for legal or personal knowledge.

The type of test chosen depends on what you intend to use the DNA test for.

Several testing options are available in situations where the alleged father is missing or deceased.The test can be performed without the mother.

A motherless test requires more extensive analysis to produce conclusive results, but the results are just as accurate as those of a standard paternity test.

Medics don’t just require saliva samples. You can also use a range of tissues which includes; blood, nails, bones, teeth hair, etc.