What is a buccal swab?
A buccal swab is a sterile cotton-tipped applicator rotated against the inner cheek to collect epithelial cells. The cells contain a complete copy of the participant's DNA. The procedure is painless and takes about 30 seconds per swab.
How does the lab analyze your DNA?
Our AABB-accredited laboratory extracts DNA from the swab, amplifies 20+ short tandem repeat (STR) regions of the genome, and compares the patterns between participants. Each STR has dozens of possible variations; the combined probability of accidental match is vanishingly small.
Paternity test accuracy at AABB-accredited laboratories is 99.99% for inclusion and 100% for exclusion, achieved through analysis of 20+ STR genetic markers.
What is chain of custody?
Chain of custody is the documented protocol that proves DNA samples were not tampered with between collection and analysis. It includes verified participant identity, witnessed sample collection, tamper-evident packaging, signed transfer logs, and AABB-accredited lab handling. Without chain of custody, results are not admissible in court.
Common questions
More about how it works.
How long should I avoid food before the swab?
Thirty minutes. Avoid food, drink, gum, and tobacco for 30 minutes before collection.
Can children participate?
Yes. The buccal swab is safe for all ages including infants.