DNA Testing Fills in Gaps for Adult Adoptees



23andMe pointed out that adult adoptees are using DNA testing to connect to their biological family. DNA testing is profoundly powerful because it can give adoptees – and their children and grandchildren – an opportunity to discover health risks they might not learn otherwise.

At-home DNA testing has surged in popularity in recent years, with well over 12 million kits sold at 23andMe. The boom in DNA testing comes at a time of other societal shifts in the world of U.S. adoptions. A New York State law went into effect in 2020, enabling adult adoptees access to their original birth certificate. Many other states have already made the change, and others will be expected to follow.

Just like non-adopted individuals, people who are adopted have needs as unique as their DNA. There is no one test or one reason for testing that fits all. Even the right time to order a DNA test varies from one person to the next.

23andMe puts customers in control of deciding what information they want to learn and what information they want to share. Customers also have a choice to opt-in to research or other features throughout the product. But those considerations are up to each individual.

No one else can tell you what’s the right decision, and DNA testing doesn’t assure that all your questions will be answered. Consider a DNA testing kit from 23andMe as another way to gather additional information if you are adopted or have gaps in your information about your past or health.

If someone is looking into getting a kit for another person, for example, adoptive parents who might be looking into testing for a child, keep special considerations like age and preparation in mind. A specialist like a genetic counselor would be a good fit for considering the ins and outs (and the whether and when) of DNA testing in these situations.

Related Articles on FamilyTree.com:

November is National Adoption Month

New Jersey Law Makes Finding Records Easier for Adoptees

New York Allows Adoptees to Receive Birth Certificates at Age 18

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