5 best DNA kits that keep your information safe
If you’re curious about your family tree and genetic background, DNA testing is an easy and accessible option in 2020. In the past few years, DNA testing has gone from a long, arduous process to an easy at home kit that requires nothing but a small tube of saliva or a cheek swab.
There are a few different brands of DNA testing kits on the market, including ones for dogs and cats. The more popular ones, like Ancestry and 23 and Me, are household names, but what about privacy?
DNA testing can help you connect with family, find which medical conditions you’re genetically predisposed to, and discover your historical roots, but you can’t do any of that if you’re concerned about the security of your data. The Independent looked into the DNA testing kit market, and these are our five favorites that have secure and reputable privacy policies to ensure you and your data are kept safe.
23AndMe: $99
Three packages: ancestry, ancestry and health, and VIP ancestry and health
Connects you to DNA identified relatives
Creates a family tree
Database of 8 million
23andMe offers anything you could possibly want to know about where you come from. Ancestry tests start at $99, with an added $99 for health information, but packages go up to $499 for overnight shipping and expedited results.
This company takes a privacy forward approach, allowing the consumer to choose if 23andMe stores their saliva sample, choose which health reports they’d like to opt-in to, and if their data may be included in 23andMe’s research. The consumer is also able to delete their account and all their data along with it.
Orig3n: $149
3 types of packages offered: health, nutrition, and beauty
Data encryption: protects your health information and data
“Insights and tips” based on your DNA
Orig3n is a different type of DNA test company. They’re not looking for who you are or where your family comes from, but rather how your DNA influences your nutritional needs, athletic potential, and your skin profile. After analyzing your DNA profile, they provide custom advice tailored to your biological needs. The company has come under scrutiny in the past for the quality of their results, but has changed their standards and methods of testing since. Orig3n commits to privacy assurances that your data will not be shared without consent and that your genetic data is owned and controlled solely by you.
Ancestry, $99
Two kits: ancestry or ancestry and health
Database of 15 million
Interesting features: Regional ethnicity estimates and a migration timeline, access to Ancestry.com data to see your family tree
Ancestry takes an interesting angle when it comes to DNA testing. The company combines both their DNA testing resources and their family tree mapping services to find the history of your bloodline and regions of origin. They also have an advanced kit that allows users to see personalized genetic health reports, health through generations through the family health history tool, and access to “genetic counseling” resources.
As for privacy, Ancestry takes it seriously, with data encryption, secure databases, and personalized permissions, so you can choose how much data to share (or not.) Your data can be downloaded, and then erased from Ancestry’s network if privacy is a major concern.
Vitagene: $89
Gives information on ancestry and health
4 testing and plan options
Suggests best supplements and exercise plans
Vitagene offers several different packages,from uploading a previous DNA report to a complete, supplement included package. Vitagene focuses on designing personal wellness plans based on DNA results, so the ancestry angle lacks a little compared to other kits, only having a map and percentages, but the preventative health aspects are good.
Vitagene also takes a privacy forward approach, storing all information without names and destroying all saliva samples after analysis. Vitagene also stresses on their website that they do not share or sell any data sent to or analyzed by them.
LivingDNA: $99
Maternal and Paternal ancestry tests available
Global Ancestry and DNA reports
4 packages, including DNA Health Analysis
Living DNA offers the same basic packages that most services do: ancestry mapping, basic health information, and DNA relative matching. Where this service differentiates itself is its ongoing search: it continues to add and update information on your DNA, including family matches. It also allows personalized DNA merchandise to be bought.
LivingDNA’s privacy policy is pretty much airtight, it details every single entity that has access to any of your information, from your name to your raw DNA data. They do state that they comply with law enforcement agencies, so if that’s a concern, another DNA kit may be a better fit.
