Can You Do a Home Paternity Test With a Toothbrush

Disclaimer– We do not accept toothbrush samples at test me dna.

Paternity test samples are often acquired through invasive methods such as swabbing inside the cheeks and drawing blood. However, sometimes it can be difficult to come by a cheek swab or blood sample if you have limited access to your child.

If that’s the case, could you do a home paternity test with a toothbrush? Let’s find out.

Can a DNA Test Be Done with a Toothbrush Sample?

The most common method used in obtaining a DNA test sample at home is usually a cheek swab. However, cheek swabs can sometimes feel intrusive especially if they’re an older child. Beyond that, a cheek swab isn’t very discreet and it could raise a lot of questions.

The good news is, you can always use a toothbrush to do a home DNA paternity test. This way, your child won’t even be aware that you’re conducting a DNA test. Not to mention, a toothbrush could also come in handy if a person is deceased and you need to prove paternity.

What about accuracy? A used toothbrush contains saliva which has an accuracy of 99.9%.

Do You Need Consent to Do a Paternity Test with a Toothbrush?

It depends on where you live. In many jurisdictions, you don’t need consent from the mother of the child to conduct a DNA test if you’re a legal guardian or parent with your name on the child’s birth certificate. On the other hand, if you’re not the child’s legal parent or guardian, you need signed consent from the legal guardian or parent.

However, in some states like New York, you cannot conduct a home paternity test if you don’t have a prescription from a licensed physician, a court order from a judge, or a letter requesting a paternity test from a licensed attorney.

Beyond that, if you’re using the toothbrush of an adult to conduct a DNA test, you will probably require consent in most jurisdictions even if you’re married. On the other hand, if you use the toothbrush of a child under your care for a paternity test, it won’t be admissible evidence in court.

How Do You Collect a DNA Sample Using a Toothbrush?

First, the toothbrush you intend to use for the DNA test should have been used by the child or the potential father for at least three months. Next, leave the toothbrush to dry out for at least thirty minutes to remove moisture and bacteria that could destroy the DNA on the toothbrush.

Once the toothbrush is dry, put it in a plastic bag and label it with the name of the person to be tested. In addition, if you’re also using the father’s toothbrush for the DNA, ensure that you put it in a separate bag to avoid contamination.

Conclusion

Toothbrushes are a convenient way of conducting a paternity test without raising eyebrows. However, if you secretly use a toothbrush to conduct a DNA test, it won’t be admissible evidence in court. Then again, using a toothbrush is convenient if you just want to find out if you’re the biological parent.

important note– many toothbrushes have more than 1 person’s DNA profile on them. If there are 2 or more DNA profiles on the toothbrush, the lab cannot distinguish what DNA belongs to each person. Then the sample would be considered contaminated and unusable.