How Much is DNA Testing?
DNA testing can be divided into two broad categories of medical genetic testing and Direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC).
- Medical genetic testing is done through a healthcare provider and the results are used for clinical or diagnostic purposes.
- DTC (direct to consumer) test kits are marketed directly to the customer and a healthcare professional is usually not involved. 23andme and Ancestry.com are both examples of these types of tests.
The cost of either DNA testing can range from under a hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the complexity of the test.
The price of DNA testing depends on how much of the genetic content is analyzed, for instance, it will cost more if the whole genome is tested. Whereas, testing for a specific set of genetic variations will not cost that much as is the case with most DTC DNA tests.
The type of DNA test you want is also important. Ancestry DNA tests are usually the cheapest depending on what you want to get out of them. then DNA health tests are usually a bit more expensive. But there are also combined tests if you want both options and these are usually cheaper than getting two separate tests.
Other factors that affect the cost of a DNA test include the depth at which the results are interpreted and whether additional services such as other products, programs, and services are being provided. For instance, for consultation with a genetic counsellor, you may be required to pay additional fees.
A genetic counsellor is a healthcare professional who has received specialized training in genetics. Genetic counsellors tell you how genetic conditions can impact you or your family. They go through your personal and family health history to determine the risk of a genetic condition. The genetic counsellor then helps you decide if you must take a genetic test.
Another thing to note is that Direct-to-consumer genetic tests are not covered by health insurance plans because they are not supported by a referral from your healthcare provider. Even if the test is intended to reveal information about disease risk, it is still not sufficient for diagnosing a disease or medical condition.
Some questions that you should ask yourself before you decide to purchase a direct-to-consumer DNA test are:
- Is the DNA testing company reputable and legit?
- Is the test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? (especially if you are using it to know about disease risk)
- Are you ready to handle the information revealed by the test results?
- Do you intend to discuss your results with a genetic counselor?
- What is the total cost of the DNA test?
Many DTC DNA testing companies have emerged since the completion of the Human genome project in 2003.
DTC DNA tests provide an easy and affordable way to explore your ancestry, traits, and disease risk.
How Much is DNA Testing for Ancestry
The price of DNA testing for Ancestry.com begins at US$59 and goes up to US$500. The cost varies depending on the type of test and additional services offered. Let’s have a look at the different DNA tests for ancestry available in the market.
Originally priced at US$79, the MyHeritage DNA test price is currently reduced to US$ 59 for a temporary period, making it the cheapest DNA test for ancestry.
FamilyTree DNA is another popular company that offers different types of DNA tests for ancestry. The cost of their autosomal test is US$ 79. The mtDNA full sequence test costs US$ 159. The price of their paternal DNA test also called the Y-DNA test ranges from US$ 119 to 449, depending on the amount of genome tested.
The 23andMe DNA test for ancestry and The AncestryDNA test costs $99. The cost of shipping and applicable taxes are charged separately.
Let’s have a closer look at the AncesryDNA test to understand how DNA testing for ancestry usually works.
The AncestryDNA testing cost includes a DNA test kit and the lab processing fee. You may add AncestryDNA traits to your results by paying an additional cost of US$20.
Your AncestryDNA results give you an ethnicity estimate by comparing your DNA’s genetic variations with 1,400+ regions across the globe. The ethnicity estimate gives you a clearer idea about where your ancestors come from.
What to expect from your AncestryDNA test results
Your ethnicity estimate presents Ethnicity regions as percentages, for example, your ethnicity estimate may show you are 25% Sweden or 10% France. These results can potentially trace back more than 20 generations.
The second component of your AncestoryDNA results is DNA matching which matches your genetic information with other consumers who have taken the AncestryDNA test. DNA matching may reveal close or distant relatives such as a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd cousin you did not know about before.
If you are curious to discover where you come from and build your family tree, AncestryDNA is a reasonably priced, popular choice that you can opt for.
The science behind the AncestryDNA test
One research study aptly summarises how your DNA holds key information about your ancestry, “An individual’s genome can be viewed as a mosaic of chromosomal segments of potentially different ancestries”
You must have heard that DNA testing for ancestry only requires you to submit a sample of your saliva to the testing facility and wait a few weeks for the results to be uploaded online. Are you curious to know the real science behind this seemingly simple process?
The different types of DNA testing for ancestry
There are different types of tests available that claim to reveal where your ancestors originate from. These tests include the Y-DNA test, mtDNA test, and autosomal DNA test.
The Y-DNA test can only be taken by males since it detects variations in the Y-chromosome which is a sex chromosome only present in males. Y-DNA test reveals only the male ancestral line of a person.
The mtDNA test can be taken by both genders but reveals only the female ancestral line since mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) is passed down to children from their mothers only.
A human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes of which one pair contains the sex chromosomes, while the other 22 pairs comprise autosomal chromosomes that are present in both sexes. Thus, autosomal chromosomes contain a great majority of your genetic information that is not limited to a matrilineal or patrilineal line.
Autosomal DNA tests reveal a more wholesome picture of your ancestral lineage and ethnicity and uncover information about both sides of your family. All of the tests for ancestry mentioned in this article offer autosomal DNA testing as the primary type of DNA test for ancestry. Only the FamilyTree DNA offers mtDNA and Y-DNA tests as well.
Now comes the question how do autosomal DNA tests work? The DNA testing facility extracts the autosomal DNA from your saliva sample. It is then tested for up to 1 million markers of genetic variation called Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) by a process called genotyping.
The pattern of SNPs in your DNA is matched with a reference panel to calculate an ethnicity estimate. For instance, AncestryDNA boasts an expansive database of DNA samples that form the reference panel.
The reference panel is formed by collecting samples from people known to have deep ancestral roots in a specific ethnicity or geographic region. DNA testing on these samples has revealed the specific pattern of SNPs present in people of a particular ethnicity.
The concept behind this is that people belonging to a particular region share a similar pattern of SNPs with each other. AncestryDNA checks for 730,525 SNPs in your DNA using the Illumina OmniExpress platform.
If the SNP patterns in your DNA match with a regional group on the reference panel, it assigns you an ethnicity percentage based on how much of your DNA has matched with samples from a particular ethnicity.
How Much is a DNA Test While Pregnant?
If you are planning to start a family soon you may be wondering how much is DNA testing while pregnant? The cost of genetic testing for pregnancy varies from less than $100 to over $1,000 depending on the complexity of the test and the technology used. However, most tests are funded by insurance.
If your pregnancy is considered to have a high risk for a genetic condition there is a higher chance that your insurance plan will cover it. However, many times low-risk pregnancies are covered as well.
Genetic testing that is based on newer technology like whole-exome sequencing, will cost more than older types of tests such as serum screening.
The following table summarizes the costs of different prenatal genetic tests:
| Type of prenatal test | Cost in US$ | Purpose of test |
|---|---|---|
| Noninvasive Prenatal Tests (NIPT) | $99 to $400 | chromosome conditions, such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18, and trisomy 13.Paternity testing |
| Serum screening | $100 to $200 | certain chromosome conditions or certain birth defects. |
| Amniocentesis | several hundred dollars to over $1,000. several hundred dollars to over $1,000. | diagnostic tests to detect chromosome conditions, such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18 or 1diagnostic tests to detect specific genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis and Tay-Sachs disease.Paternity test |
| Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) | several hundred dollars to over $1,000. | Diagnostics tests to detect chromosome conditions and genetic diseases. |
How Much is 23andMe DNA Test?
The price of 23andMe starts at US$ 99 and goes up to US$199. Currently, the 23andMe official website offers three packages that you can choose from. Their ancestry DNA testing service costs US$ 99, health service costs US$99, and Health + Ancestry Service combined is for US$ 199.
The company claims to offer high-quality results. 23andMe performs DNA analysis in US laboratories that are CLIA certified (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) and also accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
23andMe is the first and only DTC genetic testing company that received FDA approval for its Health risk DNA tests. Currently, they have more than 55 health reports that meet the FDA’s requirements.
DNA testing packages offered by 23andMe
Ancestry service
The DNA testing kit provided in this package contains a vial in which you are required to spit your saliva and mail it to the given address.
Their CLIA certified lab extracts your DNA and processes it on a genotyping chip that reads hundreds of thousands of variants in your DNA. These variants are matched with a reference panel to predict the regions your ancestors originated from.
The ancestry service matches your DNA with samples of more than 2000+ regions to generate an Ancestry Composition report. The report gives specific ancestry percentages, sometimes including the county names as well.
The service also provides personalized content based on the history, food choices and tourist destinations related to your ancestry.
There is an optional DNA relative finder as well that indicates if there are any people in the 23andme database whose DNA matches with you. A family tree is automatically built to reflect your DNA relationships.
Health service
23andMe health service allows you to discover how your DNA may have an impact on your health.
A disclaimer on their website states that “Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease.”
It further mentions that these results are not intended to diagnose a disease or be used to make any medical conditions. It is advised to discuss your test results with a healthcare professional for further insight.
The three main health services covered in the 23andme health service package are:
- Health predisposition – The service analyzes your DNA to check for the presence of genetic variations that can increase your chances of developing certain diseases and health conditions.
A set of 10 personalized reports inform you regarding the presence or absence of variants linked with diseases such as Type2 diabetes, celiac disease, and breast cancer. - Wellness – The wellness reports covered in 23andMe health service help you discover how your DNA influences lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and sleep to help you make better decisions.
Reports provided indicate the presence or absence of genes linked with muscle composition, deep sleep, sleep movements, lactose intolerance, etc. - Carrier Status – Many couples planning to start a family wonder which genes they will potentially pass on to their children.
23andMe health service provides you with 40+ reports that help you discover if you are a carrier for genetic variants linked to inherited health conditions including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia among several others.
Health + Ancestry Service
The Health + Ancestry service includes both the Ancestry and health reports totalling 150 reports included in the price of US$199. This package is also FSA/HSA eligible.
23andMe+ membership
This is a yearly membership costing US$29 per year in which you get the health + Ancestry DNA test kit at a discounted price of US$ 169. The membership provides exclusive insights such as how your DNA makeup affects your heart health and guides you to make better lifestyle choices accordingly.
It also provides genetic likelihood reports of different health conditions not covered in the basic packages such as high blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, gall stones, gout, migraines, atrial fibrillation, etc.
Three pharmacokinetics reports are also included in this membership. The reports tell you how your DNA may impact the way your body responds to certain medications.
How much is MyHeritage?
Originally priced at US$79, the MyHeritage DNA test price is currently reduced to US$ 59 for a temporary period. Their basic subscription plan is free of cost and provides a family tree of up to 250 members.
There are three different types of paid subscriptions offered by MyHeritage that claim to provide access to additional features, historical records, priority customer support, etc.
You are required to give a cheek-swab sample for testing. The technology used by MyHeritage to calculate your ethnicity breakdown is based on genotyping for SNPs on autosomal chromosomes, similar to the other tests mentioned in this article.
The MyHeritage DNA test is the most affordable DNA test that provides ethnicity percentages and DNA matches to help you discover your ancestry and reveal matches with relatives across the globe.
Pricing Table
The following table summarizes the various DNA testing kits mentioned in this article:
| Company |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price of DNA test | US$99 + US$20 for traits results (optional) | US$99 for the Ancestry and Traits service US$99 for the Health service US$199 for ancestry+health service | Original price: US$79, discounted price as of Oct 2021: US$ 59 | A variety of DNA tests for ancestry are offered: Autosomal DNA: US$79 mtDNA full sequence: $159 Y-DNA: Y-37: $119 Y-111: $249 Y-700+: $449 |
| Shipping costs | $9.95 per kit | $9.95 in the US for the first kit and $5 per kit for each additional kit shipped to the same address | $12 in the United States | $9.95 for USA and international orders |
| Price of subscription | AncestryDNA® test kit + World Explorer Membership: US$100 AncestryDNA® Family Pack (up to 3 kits): US$198 with free shipping | 23andMe+ membership US$29 With health + Ancestry DNA test kit at a discounted price of US$ 169. | Basic membership: Free Premium membership: starting at US$129 | Not mentioned |
| The primary purpose of the test | Genealogical, Personal Ancestry | Medical, Genealogical, Personal Ancestry | Genealogical, Personal Ancestry | Genealogical, Personal Ancestry |
| SNP Chip used | Customized Illumina GSA chip | Customized Illumina GSA chip | Illumina GSA chip | Customized Illumina GSA chip |
| Number of people in the database | 20,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 4,500,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Medical-related insights included | Yes | Yes | Yes | yes |
| DNA sample type | Saliva | Saliva | Cheek swab | Cheek swab |
