About a third of Americans who said either they or someone in their immediate family took a DNA test reported learning about close relatives they had never known about. While that can be a good thing — who doesn't want to meet a long-lost cousin? — some users discovered not-so-pleasant family secrets, such as their cousin was really their half-sister, or that they had four siblings they didn't know existed.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. "Direct-to-consumer DNA tests empower people to learn more about their genetic predispositions, which is a good thing," says Julia Cooper, LGC, a licensed genetic counselor at The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus, Ohio.
But they're not quite ready for prime time yet: "They're still very limited in the information they can provide," Cooper says. "They're still more of a novelty than anything."
With that in mind, here are four things genetic counselors want you to know before you sign up for one.
1. You May End Up With an Unpleasant Surprise
About 20 percent of Americans say they've used a mail-in DNA testing service such as AncestryDNA or 23andMe, according to a 2022 survey from YouGovAmerica. But while you may learn some fun facts — like you're one-eighth Irish or you're likely to be an early riser — you may uncover some more disconcerting information.
About a third of Americans who said either they or someone in their immediate family took a DNA test reported learning about close relatives they had never known about. While that can be a good thing — who doesn't want to meet a long-lost cousin? — some users discovered not-so-pleasant family secrets, such as their cousin was really their half-sister, or that they had four siblings they didn't know existed.
There are even terms for this now, like NPE, or not parent expected, says Brianne Kirkpatrick, LGC, a spokesperson for the National Society of Genetic Counselors and founder of genetic counseling service Watershed DNA. "It can be really traumatic and destabilizing for people, because it shakes your whole sense of personal identity," she says.
On the other hand, you may discover a second cousin who becomes your new best friend, Kirkpatrick points out. So that doesn't mean you need to avoid ancestry tests entirely. Just think carefully about how you'll feel if you come up with an unexpected — and potentially disturbing — result.
2. You Might Misunderstand the Results
Some companies allow you to discover if you've got certain genetic variants associated with all kinds of things, such as the type of ear wax you sport in your ear canals, or whether you have a propensity towards bitter tastes. While these facts are all fun, they're relatively harmless.
What's a little more concerning are tests that purport to check for serious, potentially life-threatening conditions such as breast cancer or kidney disease.