A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO CONDUCTING DNA TESTS AT HOME

INTRODUCTION

DNA testing/genetic testing is a method used to determine a person’s genetic makeup. It can be used for different reasons like genetic screening, paternity testing, ancestry testing, and forensic analysis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a DNA paternity test can determine whether a person who is male at birth is another person’s biological father.
Paternity testing is a very sensitive subject, especially in Nigeria and rightfully so. However, due to the prevalence of paternity fraud and child abandonment, a lot of people are becoming more open to doing paternity tests. To ensure privacy, most people ideally prefer to do the test at home. Thankfully, there are at-home DNA paternity tests for that and most companies have that.

UNDERSTANDING HOME DNA TESTS

At-home DNA tests use a sample of saliva or a cheek swab that is collected at home and sent to a private laboratory. Your DNA is extracted from the sample, tested, and reviewed in the laboratory. The results are then sent to you mostly via email.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOME DNA TESTS AND LABORATORY DNA TESTS

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT AT-HOME PATERNITY TESTS

1. They are not accurate: The results from at-home DNA tests are just as accurate as tests done in the laboratory. Issues only arise when the sample is not collected properly.
2. They are difficult to do: Most people think that at-home paternity tests are very complicated and difficult to perform. In reality, they often come with clear instructions, sometimes even with pictorial representation, to make sample collection easy for its users.

PREPARING FOR A HOME DNA TEST

To choose an at-home DNA test kit, it is important to consider the following points :

• Company/Laboratory Accreditation: Choose a testing company that is accredited by relevant regulatory bodies or organizations. Accreditation ensures that the laboratory meets specific standards for quality and reliability.
• Privacy policy: It is important to check if the company provides detailed information on how it uses and stores customer data and who has access to it.
• Turnaround Time: The turnaround time for receiving results is different depending on the testing company. However, for most companies in Nigeria, it is between 10-14 working days.

COLLECTING AND SENDING SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS

An at-home paternity test kit contains;

• Forms
• Instruction manual: This includes step-by-step guidelines on how to collect DNA samples properly and safely, as well as how to package and send them back to the testing company.
• Cheek swabs.
• Collection tubes or storage envelopes for the cheek swabs.
• A mailing envelope.

SAMPLE COLLECTION

1. Wash your hands thoroughly to ensure they are clean.
2. Read the instruction sheet/manual to fully understand the process.
3. Separate the envelopes and swab sticks for each person to prevent mistakes and confusion.
4. Rub the swab firmly but gently against the inside of the cheek for at least 20 seconds to be sure you collect an adequate amount of cheek cells. Repeat for each person to be tested.
5. Allow the swabs to air dry for a few minutes to ensure that the DNA sample is preserved properly.
6. After the swabs have dried, place them back into their individual packaging or collection envelopes provided in the kit. Make sure to label each envelope correctly.

After all this is done, send the samples back to the testing company and wait for your results.

CONCLUSION

Due to the sensitivity of paternity tests, most people would ideally prefer to do it from the comfort of their homes. SmartDNA is fully capable of helping you with your paternity tests, whether you’d like to do it from the comfort of your home or walk into any of our offices. We provide fully accredited DNA testing services to clients in accordance with the highest international standards and have one of the fastest turnaround times. Our tests are done twice and the results are 99.9% accurate.
For more information about our services, you can speak to our care experts or visit our website.