Experiences of individuals receiving "Not Parent Expected" results through direct-to-consumer genetic testing

As direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) grows in popularity, the unanticipated "Not Parent Expected" (NPE) result has become more prevalent. An NPE result is the discovery that one parent, often the father, is not a biological parent. This study explores the impact of making an NPE discovery through DTC-GT. Twenty-five participants were interviewed and transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. NPE discovery had an impact on participants' personal identity. They frequently reported having experienced grief and loss among other emotions whether the discovery confirmed a participant's prior suspicions or was unexpected. Strained parent/child relationships prior to the NPE discovery and further negative impact on the relationship after DTC-GC were common themes. Connection to newly identified biological parents and family was a common goal reported by many participants, with mixed outcomes of such connections. Further research will assist in deepening our understanding and confirming the findings of this study.