DNA Test Kits : Overview of Home DNA Test Kits

What makes DNA testing so popular is its ability to be performed not only in DNA Test Laboratories, but also in the privacy of their own homes. The search for biological parentage can be an emotional time for most people. Some find it rather uncomfortable to let friends know they are undertaking a DNA paternity test. Some also find it awkward if their surrogate family, the one who has raised them and love them all their lives, find out that they are undergoing a DNA paternity test to prove or disprove relationships and parentage!

Home DNA test kits are fairly easy to use, employing the buccal swabbing technique to obtain DNA samples. DNA collection is done within a few minutes and is virtually painless and safe. These tests also come with clear and easy to follow instructions which clients must follow to obtain accurate results. The samples are then sent through mail for analysis.

ISO 17025 Accredited Like any organization or companies, DNA testing companies should be ISO 17025 accredited to ensure that consumers are receiving quality products. In this case, a home DNA test kit should be ISO 17025 Accredited to guarantee its quality.

Samples are generally mailed back to the testing company to carry out a full DNA analysis, generally resulting in a report within a few weeks. The report should provide a clear unambiguous outcome to answer the question as to the biological relationship of the putative father to the child.

If the results of the DNA testing are to be used in a court of law, and require a legal standing, a home DNA test is not usually admissible. A much more rigorous approach in verifying the source of every sample is required. The process of obtaining the samples is witnessed and fully documented, including taking photographs of all the parties associated with each sample. This continuity is maintained with the laboratory environment, and allows an expert witness to provide an opinion in court, as to the relevance of the test results.