Home Test Kit for DNA and Paternity Checking
Identigene is the brand name that Rite Aid has given to its new DNA paternity test kit. The aptness in the name is because it helps to establish the identity of the father of the child and does so by comparing genes. The speciality of the test kit though is that this test can be used at home.
The kit was first tested by the company through their West Coast stores and checked for customer willingness. Once that was established they opened up their sales to all drugstore chains across the country.
The kit contains the swabs which can be taken at home rather than at the test lab and then the specimen has to be given to the labs for testing and result. The cost in total that of taking the swab and getting the results from the lab is higher than what this test kit provides. The kit comes for $20 and the lab test is another $120.
There is the other factor of both the parents in question being assured that the correct specimen has been given to the lab for testing. The doubt of a fictitious individual’s swab having been tested by the lab for getting their result is erased with this at home kit.
There are still arguments and counter arguments in favour and against this type of kit. The very reason of the DNA and paternity test and its seriousness is lost if the people involved could just sit at home and take their swabs.
The court as yet does not entertain the results of this type of home test kit. Some extra special tests are required for it to be accepted at the court. The product has a long way to go still by way of acceptability as well as usability. Till then the test of who is the father would still remain more prevalent at the lab centres only.
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