Top 10 Best DNA Testing kits & Companies | Ancestry Tracing

How Do I Use the Kit?

If you use a home DNA testing kit, you’ll find all the instructions included. Several companies will send a sterile tube to collect your saliva sample. It can be awkward to get enough spit for test purposes. Other companies send a cheek swab that you rub against the inside of your cheek to get a sample of cells from there.

Once you’ve collected your DNA sample, you’ll seal it into the sterile package and use the included mailing package to send it back to the company. It usually takes a few weeks to get the results, but the time frame varies; it can be anything from 4 to 12 weeks. 

When your results are ready, you’ll typically get an email inviting you to view the results online. Ancestry DNA companies have a dashboard that lets you explore your results.

Types of DNA Tests 

Top 3 Best  DNA samples can reveal many different pieces of information, depending on the type of test. These insights can range from ancestral roots to biological parents and health predispositions. Here’s a look at some of the more popular tests than can be run on your DNA:  

Paternity tests are used to confirm who is the father of a baby, child, or adult.

Genealogy or ancestry tests are used by genealogists to determine ancestral ethnicity and relationships.

The latest News on Health tests can determine how your body works, as in the case of metabolism and processing vitamins and nutrients, to what risks are at play in developing common diseases. 

Gene therapy DNA testing is most commonly used for parents before they try to conceive or for fetuses to check for inheritable genetic conditions, or if an embryo is carrying any birth defects.

Forensic DNA tests are used by police at crime scenes in order to identify victims or find criminals after certain crimes.

How to Choose a DNA Test Kit  

Like countless others purchase DNA KIT, in life, when it comes to ordering a home DNA kit, it’s crucial you determine what’s most important for you. Here are the key considerations to look for when you choose a DNA testing company or a DNA testing kit.

1. What the test reveals

If you’re most interested in family genealogical research, your best bet would be to go with a company like MyHeritage or AncestryDNA. With both of these companies, you can also access a massive database of billions of historical records and trace your roots through their family tree builders. 

In addition, the companies have millions and millions of users in their databases and can match you with relatives, so if you’re looking to find long-lost family members, companies like these are your best bet on DNA Kits. 

If you’re looking to learn more about your personal health and also perhaps get tips for nutrition and exercise, then companies like Vitagene, 23andMe, and Futura Genetics may be better options. 23andMe combines ancestry mapping with health assessments, while the other health-focused kits do not include any information on ancestry or ethnic makeup.

Finally, you should also consider the level of detail you are seeking in an ancestry report. While autosomal testing goes back several hundred years, maternal and paternal DNA testing of mitochondrial DNA and Y-DNA can provide more ancient haplogroup information. Companies vary in the geographic regions they cover, as well as the level of detail within each region. 

2. Type of test

If you want a DNA test in order to learn more about your family and your origins, you have a few options. 

An autosomal DNA test checks only 22 out of the 23 pairs of chromosomes and can be used to compare DNA from both males and females, so it’s best for finding a range of living relatives. It gets less reliable the further back you go because autosomal DNA changes every generation, so it’s only good for identifying up to third or sometimes fourth cousins, and can only give reliable information back to your great-great-grandparents.

A mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test checks the tiny mitochondrial strands inside every cell. 

Both males and females inherit these mitochondria from their maternal line. It can be extended much further back in time because it doesn’t change quickly. It gives very precise details about your ancestors and distant cousins – even your 48th cousin! – but only if they lie on your maternal line. It’s good for proving you come from a particular region, ethnicity, or family group, but not for finding relatives.

Y-DNA testing examines only the genetic information in the Y-chromosome, which is only found in males. It also does not change quickly, so like mtDNA, Y-DNA testing is good for proving a relationship to a common ancestor or checking a relationship with another individual, but it only works along the male or paternal line. This also means that only men can do a Y-DNA test, although women could ask a close male relative to take the Y-DNA test and then share the results.

3. DNA testing price

The price of the DNA test varies between different companies as well as the type of test you take. mtDNA tests are the most expensive type of DNA testing, while the cheapest DNA test kits are autosomal DNA tests. 

Y-DNA tests come in somewhere between the two. Although the tests are more or less the same, there’s a huge fluctuation in price between different companies, so compare prices before you buy DNA kits. Some companies, like LivingDNA, offer a package of all three tests for a discount.

When most people think of home DNA tests, what typically comes to mind t is ancestry and ethnicity tests. These are tests that examine your DNA sample in order to get an overview of your ethnicity and help you flesh out a family tree. Typically a straight ancestry/ethnicity test on its own will be your cheapest DNA test kit, ranging from as little as $59 to around $79-$99 for most companies. These kits are often on sale online, especially around holiday time.

Pricing for other types of DNA tests

With many companies, you can combine an ancestry test with access to genealogical records and family tree builders. This allows you to engage in comprehensive genealogical research that can be eye-opening. It can also help you find long-lost relatives. The average price is about $99, though some companies offer more advanced access to historical archives and will charge additional recurring fees. 

In addition, many ancestry DNA tests can also be used to establish paternity. These can be far more expensive—especially if they need to be legally admissible for immigration or custody reasons. You can expect to easily spend several hundred dollars or more on such a test, with even higher prices for paternity tests with results that can be used in a court of law.  

Health DNA tests can use your DNA sample in order to build a personalized health assessment. These tests can assess if you are likely to have a genetic disease later in life, which vitamins you should take, and even if you like spicy foods or favor the sweet stuff. 

Combined ancestry and health tests can easily cost around $199. Other tests include not only a health and ancestry report, but also advice on exercise, diet, and supplementation.

4. Ease of use

Most DNA testing kits are pretty straightforward, but some customers find that cheek swabs are easier and less awkward to collect than saliva samples.

5. Reports

Not every company offers the same range of reports. Very few genealogical DNA testing companies will include health and wellness reports. Most companies provide ancestral reports, which break down your family heritage, ethnicity, and which region of the world your DNA hails from, although some are more detailed than others. 

Some also provide a chromosomal browser that lets you compare your genetic profile with that of others from around the world. You can also receive relative matching reports, which let you know if you have any matches with other people registered with the same service.

6. DNA test accuracy

The type of test you choose affects the accuracy since autosomal DNA tests are less accurate the further back you go but mtDNA and Y-DNA tests remain reliable for dozens of generations.

The biggest DNA testing companies such as Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and LivingDNA are all pretty equally accurate when it comes to DNA test results. However, all companies warn that you shouldn’t use home DNA tests for detailed and critical genetic information like the risk of genetic disorders or of developing cancer.

7. Privacy

With the rise of hackers and cyber thieves, privacy is a big concern for DNA testing. Check that the company you choose uses industry-standard safeguards and firewalls to protect your details. 

You should also check that the company you choose has a strong privacy policy and won’t sell your details to medical research facilities or commercial partners without your agreement. It’s important to ask what exactly the company does with your details.

8. Special features

As well as these considerations, there are a few extra features that are offered by some DNA testing companies. Some companies store your data indefinitely, which means you can discover new family history information 50 years down the line. Others only store it for a certain number of years.

Another feature is the size of the database. The bigger the database of users, the better your chances of finding relatives.

Some companies also permit you to upload raw genealogical data to their database, so you can see if you have any matches without taking a test again.

How We Test DNA Services

We chose the best DNA kits for you based on a few key features:

Affordability

Price is one of the most critical factors in determining your DNA test of choice, so Top 10 compared kit prices based on different budget considerations. 

Range of information

Top10 compares DNA test kit companies based on differences in the information offered, whether you may be looking for health advice, ancestry details, medical risk reports, or other data. 

Privacy

We provide you with information on the most secure DNA test kit companies, especially those who have strict privacy policies like Ancestry.com or MyHeritage who do not sell licensed personal data to third parties or law enforcement.  

Result speed

Top10 also compares different test kits according to how quickly test results can be expected.

New Trends in DNA Testing That Will Change the Future

If you’ve ever been curious about your heritage, the 21st century is a great time to be alive. Although it was once an astronomical and laborious undertaking, DNA testing has become almost commonplace. Home DNA kits are cost-effective and convenient. Plus, the results are astounding and thorough. 

With the development of advanced DNA testing, innovators are using this technology to fill global needs and maximize the benefits of DNA analysis. Here are 7 trends that are cropping up in DNA testing research and results:

• Retelling History. Genetic information provides researchers with new insights into the physical characteristics and migration patterns of our ancient ancestors.

• Heritage Travel. The new tourism industry is growing out of customers’ interest in their geographic origins.

• Advancing Wellness. Increased personalization can lead to better outcomes for diet and exercise plans

• Early Disease Detection. With better genetic analysis, cancer and other diseases with a genetic component will be detected sooner.

• Fighting Crime. Analysts can put together criminals’ physical characteristics through DNA left at the scene.

Bottom Line

Now that you’ve read more DNA NEWS, about what the DNA testing industry can provide you, it’s time to get comfortable and find the test that really speaks to you. Genealogy is a fascinating hobby, and it’s also a very personal one.

You may be more interested in health information than detailed ethnic history, you may want to go deep into genealogical records and track down family relatives across a vast family tree, or you may just want to learn about your ethnic makeup. You also may find that you can use the DNA information and tools as the base for a full-on family tree. 

Luckily, a number of companies can set you up with an extensive, intuitive digital family tree which you can update in a flash and even use to meet other relatives online.