Who's Your

[Homicidalheathen]

Meijer, Rite Aid selling low cost paternity tests

by Shandra Martinez | The Grand Rapids Press

Thursday March 27, 2008, 5:30 AM

Press Photo/Emily Zoladz

Over-the-counter paternity tests are available at Meijer stores. The Identigene kit costs $29.99 with a $119 lab fee.GRAND RAPIDS -- Who's your daddy?

Finding out is almost as easy as going to the store.

Meijer and Rite Aid stores are selling what is being described as the first over-the-counter DNA paternity tests.

A kit retails for $29.99. It contains cotton swabs for taking cells from inside the mouth. The cells are sealed in plastic bags and sent with a consent form and a $119 fee to a lab.

Results are available in three to five business days and can be accessed online.

"We felt there was a segment of the market not interested in involving attorneys or physicians and simply want to have questions pertaining to paternity of a child answered in a convenient, affordable way," said Doug Fogg, chief financial officer for kit-maker Identigene and parent company Sorenson Genomics.

The test

Kit: Identigene to test DNA swabs to establish paternity

Cost: Retail price is $29.99

How it works: Cotton swabs take cells from inside mouth of the baby, mother and a man. They are sealed in plastic bags and sent with a consent form and a $119 fee to a lab.

Results: Available in three to five business days and can be accessed online.

Legal: Results for legal proceedings cost another $200.

Company: Identigene LLC and parent company Sorenson Genomics LLC.

"For Questions Only DNA Testing Can Answer," is the slogan of Identigene, a Salt Lake City lab that has offered genetic testing for 15 years.

Its competitors offer DNA testing kits sold on the Internet ranging from $99 to $490.

In just four months in test stores out West, the Salt Lake City company has sold more than 10,000 kits -- outselling the 1,500 to 2,000 purchased monthly on its Internet site.

Rite Aid is just as pleased with the response. After a successful trial run in about 1,000 stores in California, Washington and Oregon, the drug store chain opted to move up plans to stock the kit nationwide. The kits are to be available at most of its 4,363 stores -- excluding those in New York, where state law requires a court order to obtain DNA.

"It's always a goal to be the first to market with innovative health care products," said Cheryl Slavinski, director of public relations for Rite Aid, based in Camp Hill, Pa.

While kits still are arriving at Rite Aid stores in West Michigan, they have been on the shelf in Meijer stores' family planning sections since November.

"We try to stock everything that our customers would want," said Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi. The kits sit on shelves next to condoms, while they are located next to the pregnancy test kits in Rite Aid, where they sell for $19.99.

More than 60 percent of the kits are being bought by women in their 20s -- and almost 30 percent of purchasers buy the test for someone other than themselves, according to the lab company's surveys.

The kits come with swabs to test the baby, mother and a man, according to the package showing a drawing of a mother holding a baby.

A mother's sample is helpful but not necessary. Samples are taken by swabbing the inside of a cheek for 30-45 seconds to gather sufficient cellular material to provide enough DNA analysis, Fogg said.

The over-the-counter Identigene test results are not legally admissible in court. But the company offers a version that will stand up in court for an extra $200.

The lab process is the same for the retail kits as for the company's "legal" tests, which it has been offering for 15 years. The only difference is that in order for test results to hold up in court, the company establishes "a chain of custody" by having an independent third party collect the samples and verify identity of the individuals tested.

Sorenson companies and others in the United States also offer tests to track ancestry and to track whether people might be vulnerable to genetic diseases.

While there are some concerns about the test's reliability, there are similar worries about over-the-counter pregnancy, cholesterol and HIV tests, Fogg noted.

Fogg said his lab is accredited for crime-scene processing -- and by the American Association of Blood Banks, which sets standards for handling and processing samples.

While there is a growing number of direct-to-consumer genetic and medical tests available, cutting out the counsel of a physician or genetic counselor may result in unwarranted anxiety for the user, says Leonard M. Fleck, a professor of philosophy and medical ethics at Michigan State University's Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences, part of the university's medical school.

He worries there is a potential for misuse or misinterpretation.

"You wouldn't want to pick up one of these things the way you do a box of cereal at Meijer," Fleck said.

But Grand Rapids attorney Jim Kraayeveld, whose practice focuses on child custody and paternity cases, says he's going to advise clients to consider taking the home test before investing in more expensive tests or legal action.

"Ultimately, it's in the child's best interest to know who the father is. This is a less expensive way to find out," Kraayeveld said.

-- The Salt Lake City Tribune contributed to this story.

I read in cosmo its as effective as the clinics just user error worries...I did the mail hiv one once and the only concern was soaking the paper with blood...not an issue for me. I am not squimish...and I also did a stool sample by mail (blood test) so I know its effective and safe to use mail blood tests....they have good seals on everything...and this is just a spit swab.

Better than paying 500 bucks!

[Rev.Reverence]

Honestly...if you do not know who your child's father is...do you deserve to know?

[Draco1958]

Doesn't the child deserve to know? There could be family medical history that could be needed down the road. Maybe the father will want to spend time with the child if he knows he has one. So many variables to consider.

Even when watching Maury Povich, I feel for the child even tho the mother is testing guy number 23.

I never knew my dad, he wanted nothing to do with me or my mom. He even put a gun to her head threatening her to not try to get money from him to take care of me. So overall I do believe the child has a right to know who his/her father is.

[tanuki1985]

Draco, that's terrible to hear about your father. I know a few people in fatherless situations, and it usually affects them on different levels. My niece (well, she's not really my niece, but she's my brother's girlfriend's daughter from another man) has never met her real father. She grew up thinking some other guy was her dad, then he suddenly wanted nothing to do with her. She now calls my brother her dad, but she knows that he's not her real dad. Apparently her real father is a crack dealer that her mom had a two-night stand with when she was messed up on drugs. I feel bad for this 7-year-old girl because she has been so confused her entire life: first this one guy was her "dad," then he suddenly cut all contact with her; then she didn't have a dad and her mom told her about her biological dad; and now she calls my brother her dad. Her mom has told her some things about her real dad (minus the drugs), but she refused to listen. I get the feeling she is going to be one confused teenager.

Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread. I think this is actually kind of interesting. As the article mentioned, paternity tests are expensive and time-consuming, and this makes it seem a whole lot easier. Like Draco said, I believe that a kid has the right to know who his/her father is.

[Rev.Reverence]

Doesn't the child deserve to know? There could be family medical history that could be needed down the road. Maybe the father will want to spend time with the child if he knows he has one. So many variables to consider.

Even when watching Maury Povich, I feel for the child even tho the mother is testing guy number 23.

I never knew my dad, he wanted nothing to do with me or my mom. He even put a gun to her head threatening her to not try to get money from him to take care of me. So overall I do believe the child has a right to know who his/her father is.

23...woah...that's fuckin' abhorrent behavior...REALLY...and fuckin' gross.....

I feel for ALL children in such situations.

YES...the child deserves to know. BUT does the mother...?

I am an IDEALIST, I know...My stated question was pure conjecture...

I had no intent of being personal.

conjecture(my new favorite word.)

[TygerLili]

I think this is a bad idea due to the fact that there's a high risk of human error. Your home is not a sterile laboratory environment, and let's face it, the women who don't know who their baby-daddy is are usually not the brightest crayon in the box. You can't use the results for court or other legal matters, so it's kind of a waste of money.

Plus, I think it's better to get the results of a potentially life altering test from a professional who can monitor your mental and emotional state. I feel the same way about at home HIV tests.

[Draco1958]

23...woah...that's fuckin' abhorrent behavior...REALLY...and fuckin' gross.....

I feel for ALL children in such situations.

YES...the child deserves to know. BUT does the mother...?

I am an IDEALIST, I know...My stated question was pure conjecture...

I had no intent of being personal.

conjecture(my new favorite word.)

It wasn't taken personal my friend. I was just offering a counter point. We're cool

[sass_in_the_pants]

Honestly...if you do not know who your child's father is...do you deserve to know?

Um, yes. What's that question supposed to be getting at anyway?

[Oh_My_Goth]

I think if you don't know exactly who the father of you child is,

you should consider taking a trip to the clinic.....

I know that's harsh, but if you are that irresponsible of a person,

it is unlikely (not impossible) you will make a good parent.....

[Onyx]

Wow. I'm so surprised at some of the responses to this!

Just seems strange to me that some responding to this thread advocate open relationships but yet when there is a pregnancy things are viewed very differently. What if the woman was in a MMF committed relationship, wanted a child and she didn't know which man was the father?

Is this viewed differently because it's more often multiple females and one man? Is a female having more than one male partner somehow evil but a man with multiple female partners somehow more okay?

I'll admit I take a more traditional view and the relationship I really would like is one man all to myself, but why wouldn't it be okay for ME to have multiple males if I were wanting an open relationship myself? Seems very unfair and very very much a double standard.

[Rev.Reverence]

Wow. I'm so surprised at some of the responses to this!

Just seems strange to me that some responding to this thread advocate open relationships but yet when there is a pregnancy things are viewed very differently. What if the woman was in a MMF committed relationship, wanted a child and she didn't know which man was the father?

Is this viewed differently because it's more often multiple females and one man? Is a female having more than one male partner somehow evil but a man with multiple female partners somehow more okay?

I'll admit I take a more traditional view and the relationship I really would like is one man all to myself, but why wouldn't it be okay for ME to have multiple males if I were wanting an open relationship myself? Seems very unfair and very very much a double standard.

I am sick of hearing about ALL kinds of girls and women getting pregnant without knowing they are pregnant, not knowing who the father was.

Do they not know what 'safer sex' is?

Do they not know that you are supposed to pull out?

Do they not know that you should pull out even WITH a condom on?

DO THESE GIRLS/WOMEN NOT KNOW THEIR CYCLES?

How are you gonna' figure I'm in an open relationship? WE ARE NOT. What ONE does the OTHER does.

OPEN means you have leave to have another on the side.

How ya gonna' figure WE DON'T have a fella' over now and again...when the mood strikes us?

How the hell ya gonna' over look my ENTIRE 2nd post?

Why would you think I would look down on you for having multiple male partners?

I would look down upon you if you willy-nilly let your partner cum in you(monogamous or polygamous or polyamourous) and then need assistance to care for your family, or to figure out who that family is.

Why did you include those letters I highlighted RED?

[Rev.Reverence]

Um, yes. What's that question supposed to be getting at anyway?

I have no answer for that...if you would have read my second post you could have figured that out...I think.

[Onyx]

Rev, the question was not directed at just you, but I included the letters in red because you would not have that situation with two females and one male. The father would be known, of course because there would be only one man involved. Would there not be a need for a test if there were two males involved and both were in the relationship?

Also, it just seems to me the female is always the one given the blame. What about the father's responsibility? It's a two way street.

A lot of men can and do make sure they don't father unwanted children, but the ones who do behave irresponsibly seems don't receive the reaction that the pregnant woman receives.

[Rev.Reverence]

Rev, the question was not directed at just you, but I included the letters in red because you would not have that situation with two females one one male. The father would be known, of course because there would be only one male. Would there not be a need for a test if there were two males involved and both were in the relationship?

Also, it just seems to me the female is always the one given the blame. What about the father's responsibility? It's a two way street. A lot of men can and do make sure they don't father unwanted children, but the ones who do behave irresponsibly seems don't receive the reaction that the pregnant woman receives.

Oh...you did not know Oh_My_Goth is my wife? If not.....cool.Otherwise I don't see any other posts on this thread to direct the statement at.....(I will restate I never wanted to be a gerk...I still don't...)

I direct these at EVERYONE.

Do they not know what 'safer sex' is?

Do they not know that you are supposed to pull out?

Do they not know that you should pull out even WITH a condom on

I direct this at females.

DO THESE GIRLS/WOMEN NOT KNOW THEIR CYCLES?

I will now write one just for the boys/men.

DO THESE IDIOTS NOT KNOW WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT TO EJACULATE?

(sorry I did not spread my outrage equally, will do better in the future)

I can see that allot of time the double standard cuts us ALL. More often women, than men.

..Maybe a MMF relationship would not care who was the 'Gene-Father' IF THEY WERE REALLY A TRIANGLE (equilateral)...

(edit to add)

I look down with the same contempt upon men & women who breed with no forethought...

THERE ARE TO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET.

[Oh_My_Goth]

..Maybe a MMF relationship would not care who was the 'Gene-Father' IF THEY WERE REALLY A TRIANGLE (equilateral)..

Exactly.....Paternity would not be an issue at that point.....

This epidemic of children not knowing who their fathers are, needs to stop.....

I mean really, grow the fuck up, be responsible.....Know what is going on.

Like I said B4, I may seem harsh, but.....Come on.....If you don't know who fathered your child.....It's a sign something is seriously not right.....PERIOD!!!!!

[Oh_My_Goth]

Is a female having more than one male partner somehow evil but a man with multiple female partners somehow more okay?

Nothing is bad, as long as it is honest and forthright.....

[Onyx]

Oh...you did not know Oh_My_Goth is my wife? If not.....cool.Otherwise I don't see any other posts on this thread to direct the statement at.....(I will restate I never wanted to be a gerk...I still don't...)

I direct these at EVERYONE.

Do they not know what 'safer sex' is?

Do they not know that you are supposed to pull out?

Do they not know that you should pull out even WITH a condom on

I direct this at females.

DO THESE GIRLS/WOMEN NOT KNOW THEIR CYCLES?

I will now write one just for the boys/men.

DO THESE IDIOTS NOT KNOW WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT TO EJACULATE?

(sorry I did not spread my outrage equally, will do better in the future)

I can see that allot of time the double standard cuts us ALL. More often women, than men.

..Maybe a MMF relationship would not care who was the 'Gene-Father' IF THEY WERE REALLY A TRIANGLE (equilateral)...

(edit to add)

I look down with the same contempt upon men & women who breed with no forethought...

THERE ARE TO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET.

Wow - I wanted to spark a discussion about this to the whole board, don't get why you seem to be taking this personally. There are more alternative relationships here than most places and it was interesting to me to see the reactions.

So many people think a pregnancy won't happen to them - same with an STD. There are ways to reduce risk, yes but it's really naive to think it can't happen to you. It's always a possibility if both partners are fertile (even if one has tubes tied or a vasectomy - I'm sure we all have heard of cases like that).

Pulling out is not effective at all. Sperm can be carried in precum too.

Kniowing your cycle - yes that is a good thing, but that does not always prevent pregnancy. Spontaneous ovulation can and does occur and condoms do break.

I can see a lot of reasons for knowing who the father of child is, even in a committed relationship.

I'm not defending promiscuity, something I personally can't comprehend, and I see that it causes a lot of pain for a lot of people, but sometimes things can happen you didn't plan, then a lot of people condemn the pregnant woman. It's both partner's responsibiltiy and yes, I do think it's important to find out who the father is, for the sake of the child, if nothing more than to have some sort of medical history available. Besides the fact that the thread is concerning a child who is already in existence and once that's happened, one should make the best of a bad situation, eh?

It's really hard to understand the lack of compassion and the overwhelming negative reaction in this thread.

[Homicidalheathen]

Well if its rape.....what would you do then? I suggest stabbing to get a blood sample....or a dart gun and a big mean male friend.

As far as cycles go...I didn't menstrate for 2 1/2 yrs when I got pregnant with twins. I went off the pill cause I had a miss cariage and thought I could never have a kid.....made me want one more. I was heart broken...didn't care if the father stayed around or not.....just wanted a child to love.

I realized if I got pregnant he could die, leave.....whatever. Women need to be preparred to raise it on their own because THATS LIFE. Its YOUR body so its your responsibility. Its harsh, but true.

HE won't get pregnant.

I didn't even know I was preg for 2 months...I thought the spotting was my period coming back.

And I was in an open relationship with two men...who were bi roomies. However, I had stopped sleeping with the one when I got serious with Mike, who turned out to be a loser flake.

And roomate number one had a vasectomy so we knew it was Mikes but if your curious then this is one way to find out...but its not court admissable so if your going for money then you have to do it the clinic way.

I never wanted a dime out of Mike, (he never had two nickles to rub together anyway) just wanted him to visit once in awhile but he could never afford to. He got mad I moved back here to have them but I wanted FAMILY support.

We did a fertility spell to get me pregnant and I remember laughing at him saying it wouldn't work.....

[sass_in_the_pants]

Wow - I wanted to spark a discussion about this to the whole board, don't get why you seem to be taking this personally. There are more alternative relationships here than most places and it was interesting to me to see the reactions.

So many people think a pregnancy won't happen to them - same with an STD. There are ways to reduce risk, yes but it's really naive to think it can't happen to you. It's always a possibility if both partners are fertile (even if one has tubes tied or a vasectomy - I'm sure we all have heard of cases like that).

Pulling out is not effective at all. Sperm can be carried in precum too.

Kniowing your cycle - yes that is a good thing, but that does not always prevent pregnancy. Spontaneous ovulation can and does occur and condoms do break.

I can see a lot of reasons for knowing who the father of child is, even in a committed relationship.

I'm not defending promiscuity, something I personally can't comprehend, and I see that it causes a lot of pain for a lot of people, but sometimes things can happen you didn't plan, then a lot of people condemn the pregnant woman. It's both partner's responsibiltiy and yes, I do think it's important to find out who the father is, for the sake of the child, if nothing more than to have some sort of medical history available. Besides the fact that the thread is concerning a child who is already in existence and once that's happened, one should make the best of a bad situation, eh?

It's really hard to understand the lack of compassion and the overwhelming negative reaction in this thread.

Onyx is one smart cookie.

My thoughts exactly. I'm sure I've read more judgemental comments in my life, I just can't recall when.

And I can't believe it's STILL all the woman's fault. Still.

By the way, I was on birth control when I got pregnant.

And I know my cycle. And according to my period which has shown up on day 28 between 2 and 5 pm EVERY MONTH since I was 15, there was NO WAY I could have gotten pregnant when I did.

And I had TWINS!!

So, if you plan on using birth control and knowing your cycle as a method to prevent pregnancy, um, good luck with that. If it ends up being girl/girl twins I have TONS of clothes you can have.

[Rev.Reverence]

Wow - I wanted to spark a discussion about this to the whole board, don't get why you seem to be taking this personally. There are more alternative relationships here than most places and it was interesting to me to see the reactions.

HMmm... I think the phrasing in this sentence "Just seems strange to me that some responding to this thread advocate open relationships but yet when there is a pregnancy things are viewed very differently."

AND LOOKING AT WHO POSTED ON THIS THREAD GAVE ME A DISTINCT IMPRESSION.

[Rev.Reverence]

It's really hard to understand the lack of compassion and the overwhelming negative reaction in this thread.

I NEVER SAID I WAS A COMPASSIONATE BEING.

[Guest GodfallenPromos]

HMmm... I think the phrasing in this sentence "Just seems strange to me that some responding to this thread advocate open relationships but yet when there is a pregnancy things are viewed very differently."

AND LOOKING AT WHO POSTED ON THIS THREAD GAVE ME A DISTINCT IMPRESSION.

....and you wonder why I just throw cephalopods at ppl instead....

No one, from what I have seen, is making a fuss over multiple partners.

What is being discussed, is the fact that there is something of an epidemic of women that are unaware of who the father of their child is, because they have HAD so many partners and didn't take proper precautions.And when it comes down to this being your...say...15th test...for the same child....THAT is a problem.

Hell...if it helps...make a damn calender "I slept with Ronnie on such n such date....Billy two days later...Freddie last night".

[Rev.Reverence]

I WILL SAY ONE MORE TIME...

...CONJECTURE...to put forth a theory with little or no backing evidence...

...AND I USED IT TO START A CONVERSATION...

Honestly...if you do not know who your child's father is...do you deserve to know?

WAS SIMPLY THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT CAME INTO MY MIND.

(edit to add below)

What is being discussed, is the fact that there is something of an epidemic of women that are unaware of who the father of their child is, because they have HAD so many partners and didn't take proper precautions.And when it comes down to this being your...say...15th test...for the same child....THAT is a problem.

YES. WE ARE VERY HARSH WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SUBJECT.

[Guest GodfallenPromos]

YES. WE ARE VERY HARSH WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SUBJECT.

I would expect nothing less. Some harshness needs to be delivered when it is concerning this subject, simply because, between Maury and Ricki Lake, I swear that some women do it just to get ON TV.

but again, back to the subject: If you are doing so many men, and not taking the time to either tell him to put on a glove, or to know when to pull the fuck out, then don't bitch n whine when you can't figure out who the father is.

Narrowing it down isn't that damn hard....gestation is about 9 damn months.....so when the child is born...count back 9 months....if your a good enough counter, you should be able to narrow down to a couple of weeks. If there are more then 9 ppl you can think of as the father, within a two week time period.....I don't have to say what we're all thinking!!!

[Rev.Reverence]

Narrowing it down isn't that damn hard....gestation is about 9 damn months.....so when the child is born...count back 9 months....if your a good enough counter, you should be able to narrow down to a couple of weeks. If there are more then 9 ppl you can think of as the father, within a two week time period.....I don't have to say what we're all thinking!!!

It is ACTUALLY 10ish usually on the over side.