Table 1.
Differences in website and DTC DNA testing characteristics among 100 DTC DNA websites by the number of DTC DNA products mentioned dichotomized at the mean: 0–4 vs. > 4
| Characteristics | Total | No. of commercial DTC DNA products mentioned | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 | > 5 | |||
| Website related | ||||
| Year uploaded | 0.96 | |||
| 2012–2019 | 24 (24.0) | 18 (25.0) | 6 (21.4) | |
| 2020 | 9 (9.0) | 6 (8.3) | 3 (10.7) | |
| 2021 | 23 (23.0) | 17 (23.6) | 6 (21.4) | |
| 2022 | 44 (44.0) | 31 (43.1) | 13 (46.4) | |
| Author with professional credentials | 0.48 | |||
| Yes | 34 (34.0) | 26 (36.1) | 8 (28.6) | |
| No | 66 (66.0) | 46 (63.9) | 20 (71.4) | |
| DTC DNA testing related | ||||
| No need for approval from healthcare provider or insurance | 0.01 | |||
| Yes | 41 (41.0) | 24 (33.3) | 17 (60.7) | |
| No | 59 (59.0) | 48 (66.7) | 11 (39.3) | |
| Describes the DTC DNA sample collection process | 0.001 | |||
| Yes | 36 (36.0) | 19 (26.4) | 17 (60.7) | |
| No | 64 (64.0) | 53 (73.6) | 11 (39.3) | |
| Features a person taking a DTC DNA test or talking about their experience taking the test | 0.76 | |||
| Yes | 16 (16.0) | 11 (15.3) | 5 (18.5) | |
| No | 83 (83.0) | 61 (84.7) | 22 (81.5) | |
| DTC DNA testing may be less expensive than if obtained through a healthcare provider | 0.40 | |||
| Yes | 7 (7.0) | 4 (5.6) | 3 (10.7) | |
| No | 93 (93.0) | 68 (94.4) | 25 (89.3) | |
| DTC DNA testing may be more accessible than if obtained through a healthcare provider | 0.30 | |||
| Yes | 35 (35.0) | 23 (31.9) | 12 (42.9) | |
| No | 65 (65.0) | 49 (68.1) | 16 (57.1) | |
| DTC DNA testing confidentiality and privacy | 0.28 | |||
| Yes | 10 (10.0) | 9 (12.5) | 1 (3.6) | |
| No | 90 (90.0) | 63 (87.5) | 27 (96.4) | |
| Number of DTC DNA products mentioned | 443 | 125 | 318 | |
| Mean [SD] | 4.4 [6.9] | 1.7 [1.4] | 11.4 [10.0] | < 0.001 |
| Range | 1–54 | 0–4 | 5–54 | |
| 23andMe | 77 (17.4) | 50 (69.4) | 27 (96.4) | 0.003 |
| Ancestry.com | 53 (12.0) | 29 (40.3) | 24 (85.7) | < 0.001 |
| Others | 313 (70.6) | 27 (37.5) | 28 (100.0) | < 0.001 |