| A home DNA test kit is exclusively used in the | | | | mother of the child is rarely questioned, and most |
| sampling stage of a home based DNA paternity | | | | applications of this technology are in confirming |
| test. The key component in the kit is usually a | | | | the identity of the biological father. If this is the |
| pair of serrated cotton swabs, and some DNA | | | | case, a sample from the child and the putative |
| free sample tubes. These two components allow | | | | father are essential, with a sample from the |
| the obtaining of the source material which will | | | | mother being desirable but not essential. |
| ultimately be used to determine the biological | | | | Samples are generally mailed back to the testing |
| relationship of a child to the putative parents. | | | | company to carry out a full DNA analysis, |
| Using a home DNA test kit is very | | | | generally resulting in a report within a few weeks. |
| straightforward and requires so little expertise, | | | | The report should provide a clear unambiguous |
| that a child could carry out the procedure. In | | | | outcome to answer the question as to the |
| broad terms all that is required, is the removal of | | | | biological relationship of the putative father to the |
| some cheek cells from the inside of the mouth | | | | child. |
| by rubbing the cotton swabs on the inside of the | | | | If the results of the DNA testing are to be used |
| mouth. A few gentle rubs of the serrated cotton | | | | in a court of law, and require a legal standing, a |
| swab on the inside of both cheeks should result in | | | | home DNA test is not usually admissible. A much |
| sufficient material being recovered to allow a full | | | | more rigorous approach in verifying the source of |
| DNA paternity test to be carried out. It is | | | | every sample is required. The process of obtaining |
| important that a single DNA kit is used only for | | | | the samples is witnessed and fully documented, |
| one person, to ensure there can be no possibility | | | | including taking photographs of all the parties |
| of a mix-up between samples. This will ensure the | | | | associated with each sample. This continuity is |
| reliability of the final result. | | | | maintained with the laboratory environment, and |
| Once the samples have been taken they should | | | | allows an expert witness to provide an opinion in |
| be placed in the sample tubes provided and the | | | | court, as to the relevance of the test results. |
| tubes sealed. This will ensure preservation of the | | | | If you want to find out more about DNA |
| cellular material present on the swab heads, and | | | | paternity testing, or obtain a free home DNA test |
| prevent any environmental contamination of the | | | | kit, click on the link in the author section below. |
| source cells. In general the identity of the biological | | | | |