Collecting a buccal swab DNA sample using is quick, easy, and painless. If you are collecting from a baby, biew our tips for collecting a baby's DNA samples.
Buccal Swab Collection Instructions (Video):
Buccal Swab Collection Instructions
Important! Do not eat, drink, brush, chew gum, smoke or put anything into the mouth for at least 1 hour prior to sample collection.
Step 1: Prepare Supplies
Take out the supplies from inside your kit and arrange them neatly on a clean surface. You will have supplies to collect two swabs each from the alleged father, child, and mother (testing the mother is optional).
Step 2: Complete the Donor Information and Consent Form
Each person must complete the form on the back of their specimen envelope. Testing may not proceed if the form is incomplete.
Step 3: Open a buccal swab package
Wash and dry your hands, then tear open a buccal swab package. Each package contains two buccal swabs. Carefully remove a swab by holding the swab by the stick.
Step 4: Collect two swabs, one from each cheek
Scrape and rotate the swab vigorously on the inside of the right cheek of the appropriate individual for at least 30 seconds, then place the swab directly into the correct specimen envelope. Repeat using the second swab on the same individual, this time on the left cheek.
Step 5: Allow swabs to dry completely
Allow the swabs to air dry inside the specimen envelope at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, then seal the specimen envelope. If you do not allow the swabs to dry completely, the DNA will degrade and the test will not work.
Step 6: Seal specimen envelope
After the swabs have dried completely, seal the specimen envelope. Make sure that the specimen envelope has been clearly labeled with the name of the donor and the form on the back of the specimen envelope has been completed and signed.
Step 7: Repeat steps 2–6 for the next individual
Collect two buccal swabs from each individual by repeating steps 2 to 6 using the appropriate color coded specimen envelope and swabs. Once you are finished collecting all the samples, place the specimen envelopes back into the original box.