Home DNA Test Kit Procedures

To start an in-home paternity test, click an order button above or call 1-888-362-2592. One of our caring, knowledgeable case managers will assess your situation based on the information you provide and verify the paternity test options that are best for you. We will send you a DNA collection kit within 24 hours of ordering, or you can make your own kit.

Sample Collection Using the Genesys Kit
When you choose to order a kit, you will receive a DNA collection kit containing the following:

• Detailed instructions for collecting the DNA samples.
• Sterile Dacron synthetic swabs—these are specially designed cotton-like swabs that ensure proper collection of DNA for paternity testing. Unlike the regular cotton Q-tips used by other laboratories, the polyester made by Dacron provides a consistent surface for collecting DNA samples.
• Swab storage envelopes—These provide a dry environment for the shipment of your swab samples to our DNA testing laboratory, helping to avoid sample contamination by molds and bacteria.
• A business reply envelope for sending the samples back to our lab.

The procedure for sample collection is simple:

1. Remove one buccal swab envelope from the kit and complete the requested information on the swab envelope.

• Buccal swab envelopes are labeled for the Child and the Alleged Father.
• Other envelopes are provided for the rest of the tested parties. You will need to indicate whose samples are in these envelopes—Mother, Child #2, Alleged Father #2, and others.
• Be sure to provide race information, which is needed for statistical analysis.

2. Take the swabs (packaged in plastic) from the envelope and open the package at the end opposite from the swab tip.

• Do not touch the swab tips.
• There are 4 swabs in the packet, two each for the left and right cheeks.
• Discard the plastic wrapper—do not use it to return the swabs to our laboratory.  

3. Collect the samples.

1. Open the mouth wide.
2. Insert a swab into mouth and rub it firmly back and forth, and up and down on the inside of the cheek, rotating the swab while rubbing to ensure enough cheek cells are collected.
3. Use two swabs each for the left and right cheeks.

4. Place the used swabs in the corresponding envelope.

• Do not place the swabs in plastic. Doing so will promote the growth of molds during transport of the sample to our laboratory.

5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 for each tested party.

6. Place all sample envelopes in the business reply envelope provided and send it back with your payment to our laboratory.

DNA Test in Our Laboratory
In our laboratory, we will extract DNA from the swabs and use the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) together with at least 16 primers to create a “map” of each person’s DNA, called a DNA profile. The 16 primers we use include the 13 CODIS markers that the FBI uses in their investigations to identify individuals.

Each tested party’s DNA profile will then be compared to determine the alleged father’s probability of paternity. The results will show either a 100% exclusion (the alleged father is not the biological father) or at least a 99.99% inclusion (the alleged father is considered the biological father).

Results
You may choose to receive your DNA test report via phone, email, and first class mail. Results are available 3 days after we receive your samples in the laboratory. If you would rather not wait for the mail to know the results, simply call your case manager at 1-888-362-2592 or go to www.paternity-answers.com and click on the “Case Status” button on the homepage to request a copy of your results via phone or email.