Can consumer DNA tests be contaminated by other human DNA?

[Lisa C]

Can consumer DNA tests (MyHeritage, family tree, etc.) be contaminated by other human DNA and affect the results?

How can I be sure that my result is a true representative of me?

[A. Diaa]

If you give your sample according to instructions, how can it be contaminated by other human DNA?

[Roy Flint]

You give a sample from your mouth. It is your responsibility to make sure that your mouth does not have any DNA from another person.

As to contamination from the package or in the lab itself, it is highly unlikely though possible. All companies try their best to ensure no contamination.

Most probably, what you have experienced is a faulty or inaccurate interpretation of the test results. Ancestry tests in particular are not 100% accurate.

 

[A. Hammouda]

Most probably you are misinterpreting your results. Many of those who go for the direct-to-consumer DNA testing lack basic knowledge about the human genome. Many do not realize that one person’s DNA is less than 0.1%. different from that of another person. Getting their knowledge from the media and science fiction, they think they have got a quite unique DNA. I have encountered several questions led by this belief. It is the responsibility of the providing companies to educate their consumers to minimize such questions.

[Lisa C]

I have not yet used the services of any company. I am trying to make sure before I go for it.

[Mahi Bashat]

And what about the privacy issue?

If may sample and data are private and so are other people’s as well, how can I reach to my family members?

[Author]

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