The Genex Advantage - Buccal Swab Specimen Collection

Advanced Sample Techniques

Samples are processed at Genex's state-of-the-art facility using the latest technology. Genex routinely performs DNA paternity testing from blood samples, buccal swabs, umbilical cord blood (newborns), as well as chorionic villus and amniotic fluid samples (prenatal). This allows DNA paternity testing to occur at all stages, from prenatal to immediately after birth, to infants and older children. If required, Genex has a forensics testing division which is able to process forensic samples such as hair, bone, dried stains, semen, etc.

Buccal Swabs: A Safe Option

All of Genex's collection facilities are currently fully equipped to perform both blood as well as buccal cell collection. Genex understands that parents are often concerned with the drawbacks of venous blood draws. Genex automatically provides a selection of "safe" options for infants, including buccal swab and heel prick. The buccal swab involves scraping the inner cheek of the patient with a special swab to collect buccal cells. This procedure is fast and painless and is automatically offered as a method of choice at all of Genex's collections sites. The second method is the heel prick. The heel prick involves pricking the heel of the infant to obtain 2 drops of blood. Using sophisticated technology, this is all that is required to properly complete the DNA paternity test. For adults who are scared of veni-puncture (blood collection from the arm), Genex is able to provide them with the buccal swab specimen collection option at no extra charge. The level of accuracy between blood and buccal cells is exactly the same because all of the DNA in our body is exactly the same.

Fast, Simple, Painless, and Accurate

When buccal swabs are chosen as an option for specimen collection, three buccal swab samples are collected from the patient using special Dacron tipped buccal collection swabs. Samples are collected by rubbing the swab gently on the inner lining of the cheek for 20 seconds. Immediately after sample collection, the buccal swabs are subjected to the same strict chain-of-custody procedures as blood samples.