The first thing that jumps to mind once we start entertaining the idea of doing a DNA test is how much DNA testing costs. While you may think that such an endeavor comes with a hefty price tag, the truth is that making DNA tests widely available and utilizing the direct-to-customer approach has significantly reduced their prices. The ever-growing competition on the market has certainly made its contribution to making DNA testing a less burdensome financial enterprise.
What Exactly Are You Paying For?
While the price of DNA tests may vary from one company to another, there are some expenses that they all need to cover, including:
- Materials – It encompasses the materials used for the production of the test kit itself. That part of the financial chart pie is rather insignificant compared to the lab procedure itself.
- Sample analysis – It comes with a much higher price tag. The samples can be processed up to several weeks for some tests, which carries its monetary counterweight, of course.
- Legal adjective – Legal DNA tests provide results that can be used in courts, immigration agencies, and other government-sanctioned bodies. It introduces additional steps into the protocol, also increasing the price of service.
- Customs laws – This is another price-inflating factor for many countries. If your chosen company ships worldwide, you should definitely go over your customs laws for any hidden expenses.
The general rule of thumb is, the more complicated the test, the longer it will take to finish, meaning it will also cost more money.
Return On Investment
Now that you know what factors influence the price of DNA testing, let us take a look at the value offered in return:
- All DNA testing companies offer a life-long membership after the first test. Many of them also provide automatic free updates of your results.
- Relationship tests (paternity, maternity, uncle/aunt tests…) offer either personal peace of mind or a court-viable document for the purposes of adoption, child care, inheritance, family pension, and immigration.
- Ancestry DNA tests provide a broad picture of your historic ancestral line, ethnic maps, geographically relevant regions for your DNA signature, migration routes of your genetic ascendants, Neanderthal ancestors, direct paternal/maternal lineage, and much more.
- Companies can also provide health-related DNA results, uncovering potential illness-bearing genes, giving you an early warning and ample time to take the necessary precautions.
- You will get your personal page on the company’s website, where you can connect with your DNA matches and join or build your own family tree.
- Purchasing DNA test kits allows for unimpeded access to your chosen company’s database, where you can find uploaded documents, old photos, personal entries, and much more.
- You can get breed-certification for your pet or sports animal, as well as health-related reports
conditions
This is just a cursory overview of the very real and tangible benefits a good DNA test can introduce into your life. Regular ancestry tests feature 74+ result segments, which more than justifies the initial investment.
What Are The Actual Prices?
We can’t really explain how much DNA testing costs without introducing numbers and dollar signs into this mini-guide. Here are the prices of some of the best DNA tests available:
- FamilyTree DNA – Its Family Finder Test costs 79$ for lifelong platform usage. Shipping charges are 12.95$ for international and USA orders with a pre-paid return mailer included.
- AncestryDNA – Ancestry autosomal test costs 99$ in the US, 149$ in Canada, 79£ in the UK and in Ireland, 149$ in New Zealand and Australia. Shipping charges are 9.95$ for the US, 19.95$ for Canada, 20£ for UK and Ireland, and 29.99$ for New Zealand and Australia.
- 23andMe – Ancestry + health results costs 199$ for lifelong platform usage, 249$ in Canada, 169€ in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and 149£ in the UK. Its ancestry-only test is available in the US for 99$ and in some other selected countries for 149$. Shipping charges are 9.95$ for the first kit in the US, 5$ for every next kit mailed to the same address, 19.95$ for Canada, and 9.99£ for the UK. Shipping charges for other countries range from 39$ to 127.99$.
This is just a brief overview of what some of the top DNA testing companies feature in their portfolios. For additional information on their services and pricing plans, check out our Ancestry DNA review, Family Tree DNA review, and 23andMe review. You can also explore how much other DNA testing companies cost here.