Soaring sales of 'dangerous' do-it-yourself DNA test kits: Number of websites selling products doubles in two years
By Sean Poulter,
Daily Mail (UK)
| 01. 20. 2014
- 38 British websites now offer home testing kits - which can cost up to £300
- Paternity and genetic ancestry tests are the most popular
- Tests which claim to reveal vulnerability to diseases are also up
Sales of DNA tests for everything from the risk of developing life-threatening diseases to catching out cheating partners are booming.
The number of British websites offering home testing kits and services has doubled to 38 in just two years, research has revealed, with companies charging fees of up to £300.
DIY paternity and genetic ancestry tests are the biggest sellers, however sales of tests claiming to reveal a predisposition to certain diseases are up 14 per cent a year.
The revelation by Angelina Jolie that she had a double mastectomy because she had a greater genetic risk of developing breast cancer triggered a spike in tests.
Genetic tests also now exist for a host of serious inherited illnesses, such as Huntington’s disease or Parkinsons.
However, the advances open up potentially devastating consequences for people who get bad news about their risk of developing a fatal...
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