Over the Counter Paternity

Who's the Daddy? Over-the-counter DNA tests are now on sale at Rite Aid drug stores in California, Washington and Oregon. The New York Times reports that some critics worry about the test's reliability, but that similar concerns about over-the-counter pregnancy, cholesterol and H.I.V. tests proved unfounded.

Actually, medical testing at home is not a new concept. The first at-home medical testing kits became widely available in the late 1960s. At that time, kits to test urine for glucose were in the drug stores. In 1977, Warner-Lambert introduced a pregnancy test that could be used at home.

It's taken off in a big way since that time. Today, you can find at-home test kits for numerous medical conditions as well as environmental toxins such as lead and asbestos.

So, there's no need to go on the Maury Povich show. Save yourself some drama and test at home.