Are Swab Paternity Tests Accurate?

If you’re planning to do a paternity test that is not invasive, a cheek swab could be your best option; especially if you’re doing it on a toddler. However, you could be worried if a mouth swab DNA test for paternity will give you accurate results.

Well, keep on reading this article as we dig deeper to find out.

How Does a Cheek Swab Paternity Test Work?

First, you need to understand that cheek swab tests are different from saliva tests. This is because the cells needed for the test are found in the buccal tissues, not in the saliva. This means that you only need to rub the swab against the cheeks.

If you want to conduct a home cheek swab paternity test, you first need to get a paternity test kit from a reputable facility. The kit will come with all the equipment necessary for collecting the samples by rubbing the small swab (like a Q-tip) against your cheeks.

Nevertheless, just remember not to get too much saliva on it because it might affect the results. If you’re taking a child’s sample and the Q-tip gets drenched in saliva, leave it out to dry for a few minutes before placing it in the envelope.

How Accurate Is a Mouth Swab DNA Test?

Mouth swab paternity test is just as accurate as blood DNA test. If done properly, it can provide a DNA test result with 99.9% accuracy.

However, if the person at the laboratory doesn’t follow the correct procedure, or you do not follow the instructions as stipulated by the test kit, the accuracy of the test can be compromised.

How Do You Get an Accurate Mouth Swab Paternity Test?

If you’re taking a home paternity test, you will need to do the following to ensure accurate results:

Step 1:

Read the instructions that come with the home paternity test kit carefully. This will help you through the process.

Step 2:

Avoid eating anything or using mouthwash 30 minutes before the swab. Ideally, you could take the test first thing in the morning before you brush your teeth or have breakfast. This is to avoid contaminating the samples.

Step 3:

Carefully swab the walls of your mouth while trying not to get too much saliva on it. You should then let the moisture dry off for a couple of seconds to avoid molding during transit to the laboratory.

Step 4:

Right after taking the swab sample, place it in the envelope that comes with the DNA kit to avoid contamination. Also, make sure that you snap off the swab at the required point.

Step 5:

Fill out the form that comes with the test kit, sign it, and place it in the envelope alongside the samples before sealing it. This will ensure that the samples are not tampered with during transit. Don’t forget most laboratory facilities will not carry out the test if the envelope seal is broken.

Conclusion

A cheek swab DNA paternity test is as accurate as a blood DNA paternity test. However, if you want accurate results, make sure that you follow the correct procedure to avoid contaminating your DNA sample.