[Kequc]

When I signed up the sample they took was spit in a vial.

It never clicked for me that this was going to be the most scientifically accurate reading of my health in all the world. I took part because it could give me some scaring and soothing. But I assumed I'd go get a real test done if I was actually worried or interested about something specifically.

The website repeats this sentiment over and over, I learned about all kinds of interesting genetic stuff. I'm sure that's what it's for. I shouldn't be surprised that many people take what it says as gospel.

[eli]

The "real" genetic test I took in doctor's office to screen for a condition worked by spitting in a bottle too. It's a reasonable way to collect DNA.

[amelius]

> I learned about all kinds of interesting genetic stuff

And there's much more to be found. The service of 23andme only records a limited set of SNPs. Further there is "multiomics" (see [1]), where not just the genome is sequenced but a complete biological fingerprint of metabolites is taken at different timepoints. This can e.g. give insight in onset of a disease even before any symptoms present themselves. I wonder when this will become available as a (mainstream) service, but I guess soon.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiomics

[nether]

> When I signed up the sample they took was spit in a vial.

Yes, and? I don't see the significance of the testing medium here. DNA sequencing from hair or blood or saliva will yield identical results.

[aarongolliver]

They're saying the testing medium itself made the test appear less scientific/accurate (to them) than it actually is. Perhaps if it had been a hair sample it would have appeared more scientific (again, to them).

[Kequc]

Yes that's right.

[SEJeff]

Yup and in both sources, it will be multiplied first via polymerase chain reaction, and then analyzed / sequenced.