The first decision that must be made prior to doing a paternity test or any DNA test involves the type of DNA samples to collect. The most common and reliable sample types are saliva (also called an oral swab, mouth swab or buccal swab) collected by means of a sampling DNA test kit sent to you by the company doing your test. (You can also purchase oral swabs from a pharmacy but this is an added cost as the sampling kit is normally included in the price you pay for the test). As long as the correct procedure for sample collection is followed and the right precautions are taken, there will be no problem of obtaining adequate amounts of DNA to complete the DNA test. Of course all DNA test kits from reputable companies will be accompanied by extensive instructions on the procedures to follow.
Are Blood Samples used in Paternity Testing?
Blood samples are also possible but much less widely used nowadays. The main difference between saliva and blood lies in the method employed to collect the sample. The procedure to collect blood is somewhat invasive, and in the least, requires a small lancet prick to enable extraction of a droplet of blood. Alternatively, a physician or qualified medical professional can draw blood from the forearm with a syringe. On the other hand, the procedure to obtain a saliva sample is painless and non-invasive. As a result, saliva samples are the most frequently used and they are recommended in most cases.
Blood samples are used in certain very avant garde prenatal paternity tests which analyse fetal DNA in the maternal blood stream. Instead of undergoing risky sampling procedures like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, expectant mothers can simply provide their blood sample from which scientists can extract the baby’s DNA in the maternal blood and map the unborn child’s DNA profile.
Testing when Test Participants live in Different Countries
It is also possible for many companies to carry out cross-border DNA testing. In such cases, test participants may live in different geographical area within the same country or across the globe. The company can send out sampling kits to different people taking part in the same test; for example, in a paternity DNA test, the father may live in one country and the child in another. This testing takes some added co-ordination and of course, no laboratory testing can commence until everyone’s DNA samples have been received.
Sampling DNA Test kits can be obtained from the providers of the test who will normally mail you the kit at home or where requested. They can often be ordered by filling a simple on-line form or requesting the kit directly by email, and can be in your hands within a few days.
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