About Affinity DNA
Affinity DNA is a reputable brand with over 15 years of experience in the pet and human DNA business. As one of the industry-leading DNA testing brands, Affinity DNA collaborates only with highly accredited DNA laboratories. The brand offers accurate at-home tests for pets (dogs & cats) and people.
Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Testing Technology
The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test is designed to check sensitivities in dogs and not true allergies. Basically, the test screens for a delayed response on behalf of the dog’s immune system (presence of specific proteins in the dog’s saliva).
Using this detection method, the test covers 125 allergens, including foods, supplements, environmental factors, and household products. Some tested allergens are chicken, beef, carrot, apple, green peas, limonene, MSM, pumpkin, oat, cod liver oil, tobacco, fleas, house fly, pollen, feathers, dust mites, etc.
How Does Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test Work?
The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test is very straightforward. Once the test arrives, you must register it on the brand’s official website and proceed to sample collection.
The sample (saliva) collection is also simple, as the kit provides everything you need. Plus, taking your dog’s saliva is non-invasive and stress-free.
However, there are some considerations. Namely, the sample must be collected in the morning before the dog’s first meal. If this is not an option, it can be taken between meals, but it is advisable to wait as much as possible after the meal, as food may affect the results.
Also, certain medications alter the results. Such meds include antihistamines, anti-itch drugs, and steroid/non-steroid anti-inflammatories (common examples include Benadryl, Apoquel, Cytopoint, and Prednisone). Therefore, these meds should not be taken for one to two weeks before the sample collection.
After being collected, the sample is shipped. The saliva is viable for over ten days, but the brand recommends sending it as soon as possible. Then, the results will be ready in four weeks and received in an email. They can also be sent in a hard copy form for an additional fee.
The result report categorizes the tested allergens into three groups: positive reactions (red), possible reactions (yellow), and negative reactions (green).
What Is Included In The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Testing Kit?
The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Testing Kit includes the following:
- One saliva collection device
- Step-by-step sample collection
- Sample submission form
What Are The Type of Tests Affinity DNA Offers?
In addition to the Allergy Test, Affinity DNA offers dog DNA breed tests and dog parentage tests, including:
- Embark Dog DNA Test
- Wisdom Panel Dog Breed DNA Test
- Dog Paternity Test with Mother
- Dog Paternity Test without Mother
Affinity DNA also has screening tests for several inherited diseases, such as:
- Multidrug Resistance 1 MDR1 Test
- PRCD-pra Testing
- Degenerative Myelopathy Test (DM)
- Exercise Induced Collapse Testing (EIC)
- Hyperuricosuria DNA Test for Uric Acid
- von Willebrand Disease DNA Testing
Finally, Affinity DNA makes several tests for cats, as well as humans.
Affinity DNA Dog Test Key Features
- The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test can be used for both healthy dogs and dogs with known or suspected sensitivities
- The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test covers 125 different allergens, including environmental factors, foods, supplements, and household products
- Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test uses saliva, making the sample collection non-invasive and straightforward
- The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test Kit features everything the customer needs to collect the sample, but the return shipping fee is not included.
- The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy test categorizes the tested allergens into three categories - positive reactions, possible reactions (but not strong enough to be positive), and negative reactions; each category is color coded for easy interpretation
- Affinity DNA offers a 60% discount on the first box of tailored dog food from Tails (orders can be made on tails.com with the code AFFINITY).
Pros & Cons Of The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test
Pros
- Science-backed testing technology
- Quick and painless sample collection
- No needles & no vet or lab visits
- Covers as many as 125 allergens
- Samples tested in accredited laboratories
- Fast turnaround time (4 weeks)
- Easy-to-interpret, color-coded results
- Useful results that can be acted upon
- Budget-friendly test price
- Many success stories on the website
- Excellent, fast-responding customer support
Cons
- Not accurate in puppies less than six months of age
- Food and certain drugs may affect the test results
- Interacting meds must be discontinued for at least ten days before the sample collection
- Shipping the sample is at the customer’s expense
- Additional fee for a hard copy version of the results
- The test does not work for cats
How Much Does The Affinity DNA Dog Test Cost?
Final Verdict - Is The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test Worth It?
Based on factors such as science-backed testing technology, variety of allergens included, ease of sample collection, turnaround time, affordability, user-friendly result interpretation, and customer support, we give the Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test an overall 3.8 out of 5 stars.
So, the answer is yes – the Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test is worth it. We dislike the two hidden costs and the lack of information provided on the website in terms of sample collection and shipping. However, the pros outweigh the cons.
The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test is affordable and reliable. The sample is easy to collect, and the results are available within four weeks, which is short. Plus, the samples are tested in highly accredited laboratories.
Before purchasing the Affinity DNA Dog Allergy test, you need to understand that the at-home pet allergy tests are not designed to serve as medical advice. We strongly recommend seeing your trusted vet after receiving the results for a more practical result implementation.
The Affinity DNA Dog Allergy Test is designed to check sensitivities in dogs and not true allergies. Basically, the test screens for a delayed response on behalf of the dog’s immune system (presence of specific proteins in the dog’s saliva).
Using this detection method, the test covers 125 allergens, including foods, supplements, environmental factors, and household products. Some tested allergens are chicken, beef, carrot, apple, green peas, limonene, MSM, pumpkin, oat, cod liver oil, tobacco, fleas, house fly, pollen, feathers, dust mites, etc.
