Direct-to-consumer genetic testing is a type of testing that can be done at home without involving a health care provider or insurance company. For this type of testing, a test kit is mailed to you and involves collecting a DNA sample by swabbing the inside of your cheek. Once the sample is collected, you send it back for analysis and the results are either delivered by mail or phone, or they may be posted online. While many people use direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits, there are some concerns about using them, including:

• The information they provide has a high error rate since the testing methods usually haven’t been validated for clinical use.
• These kits often test for only a few of the many genetic mutations related to breast cancer, so testing may be incomplete.
• Your personal information may not be secure. It’s important to understand how the company uses your information, how it protects the information it collects and whether it shares your information with others.
• You must pay out-of-pocket for the testing, meaning insurance doesn’t cover it.

Once you’ve received results from a direct-to-consumer genetic test, it’s recommended you have them confirmed by a lab that’s certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (or CLIA). Your health care provider or genetic counselor can help you with that.

Your provider or a genetic counselor can also help you interpret the test results and discuss possible options with you. To learn more, you can visit the Risk Factors section on komen.org.