Information On Reasons For Conducting a DNA Swab Test

Submitted on March 27, 2012

DNA Swab Test

A DNA swab test can provide enough samples of DNA to test for a match - whether this is for paternity or to prove innocence in a crime. DNA can also be tested with blood or hair samples.  Swab DNA testing is a new procedure followed by laboratories. An oral or mouth swab or buccal is an easy method to collect a DNA sample. The results are as accurate as a blood test for DNA, provided the sample is taken correctly. If contamination occurs then the results will be inaccurate. The swab looks like a Q tip but is longer than a regular Q tip and contains chemicals which preserve the sample. The reasons why a swab test is preferable to a DNA blood test are given below:

Swabs have a greater advantage over needles - they are painless and in particular easier to use especially when a child is being tested. The collector simply rotates the swab inside the person’s mouth. The epithelial cells are collected on the swab. These cells contain the same DNA that is found in the blood. As mentioned earlier, collecting blood involves needles which can be a painful process and one that people shy away from.

A swab sample does not involve breaking the skin and therefore there the risks are minimal. Blood collection poses more risks and is more invasive as the skin is broken.

Cost is another factor that counts. It is far more costly to hire a certified phlebotomist to take a blood sample than to get a collector to take a sample from the cheek. In fact, some people even resort to taking the sample themselves.

Reason Why It is Conducted

Another reason to choose a swab sample over a blood sample for DNA is that swab samples are easier to transport. The DNA sample needs to be sent from the collection center to the DNA laboratory. Most shipping companies have strict rules in place regarding the shipment of blood. Blood samples need to be kept at a certain temperature as well. Swab samples are put into envelopes and can be easily transported. They do not need to be kept at any required temperature.

If you choose to take a swab sample at home make sure you follow all instructions implicitly. Do not send a dropped swab for testing or re-use the swab on other people.

Many people look for solutions to the question of how to beat a DNA swab test; however, there is actually no way to beat a DNA swab test. No matter what you do, your DNA never changes.

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