An Overview of Do-It-Yourself DNA Paternity Test Procedures

Ever imagined conducting complex DNA testing right in your home, without requiring any specialized knowledge on the subject? A paternity test kit commonly referred to as an in-home paternity test kit does exactly that. Though it has become possible to purchase this paternity test kit only recently, it does eliminate the ordeal of going to a private testing center for testing and spending a fortune on it. It is now possible for you to buy one right over-the-counter (OTC) from drug stores throughout the U.S for $19.99, although the lab's processing fees will be an extra charge.

The different steps involved in conducting a basic paternity test are listed below:

Once ordered, the paternity test kit will arrive in a discreetly marked package to protect your privacy and will include an equally plain return envelope or package for mailing the completed test kit back. Like all products, the specifics may vary from one company to another, but the key is to accurately label the collection envelopes and fill in all of the mandatory information. The next steps are to follow the directions to collect the samples, then simply mailing it back to the laboratory.

1. Step One: Each individual being tested will have a separate package in which to mail the samples back. The envelopes for the child and alleged father are pre-labeled, and the additional envelopes of the other parties tested will be unlabeled. It is very important to provide race information which is very vital in calculating DNA related statistical data.

2. Step Two: Almost all kits provide four swabs for each person: two for the right cheek and two for the left cheek. The swabs should always be opened at the opposite end of the swab tip and extra care should be taken to prevent the swab tip from touching the outside of the package or any other surface.

After inserting the swab into the mouth, it should be rubbed back and forth and up and down movements. The swab that was used must be placed into the appropriately labeled envelopes, and then only the second swab should be used. Placing the swabs in a plastic bag will promote the growth of mold that could potentially destroy the DNA and should be avoided.

3. Step Three: Once all the concerned parties have taken samples using all four swabs, the swabs must be put back in the envelope and sealed. The forms indicating the mode of payment for testing and how you would prefer to receive the results have to be filled out and signed. There are also convenient options for getting the DNA results: as an email, or retrieved online from a web site.

The individually labeled envelopes with any additional forms/requests should be inserted into a single, large postage paid mailer and sent to the laboratory for processing the samples. The turnaround time for processing the samples and providing a result is usually five working days from the receipt of the samples by the lab. For an additional fee the result processing time can be reduced if there is a time constraint on your side.

It is with 100% certainty that the DNA results will prove that a man is not the father of the child being tested, and provides a 99.9999% probability of accurately determining that he is the biological father.