Buccal Swab Specimen Collection

Benefits at a Glance

» Ease of Participant Access
» Over 3000 Collection Sites
» Ease of Scheduling
» Quick Response
» Flexible Hours of Appointment
» Reliable and Professional Staff
» Mobile Service
» Service for Remote Communities
» Broad Language Capabilities
» Buccal Swab Specimen Collection
» International Services
» Testing for all Ages
» Forensic Capabilities

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.

Laboratory capabilities

Genex was one of the first laboratories in North America to provide buccal swab sample collection as a readily available, affordable, and standard option. In the past, older techniques such as RFLP used by smaller labs required large amounts of DNA. Due to the small amount of DNA present in buccal cell specimens, blood was previously recommended as the specimen of choice. As a result, paternity tests involving buccal cells were previously expensive, not readily available at most collection sites, required extra laboratory processing time, and patients were frequently asked to return to a second appointment for recollection due to insufficient amounts of DNA present on the swabs from the initial collection.

Genex's state-of-the-art laboratory employs the latest PCR technology combined with capillary laser sequencing for all DNA paternity tests. The technology available at Genex is so powerful that DNA present in a single drop of blood or a single buccal cell can be amplified over one million times in under one hour. The capillary laser detection system is the most sensitive detection system available to date. As a result, even sub-optimal buccal samples (e.g. samples over 1 year old) could be easily analyzed. The amount of DNA present in a single buccal swab is more than adequate for Genex scientists to perform multiple DNA paternity tests. Buccal cells are an ideal specimen for modern DNA paternity testing labs and are a routine part of Genex's current DNA paternity testing program.

Available at all Genex Collection Sites

Genex currently offers both blood as well as buccal swab collection options at all of its DA sample collection facilities throughout the United States.

Buccal swab option also available through mobile service: The buccal cell collection option is available at all of Genex's mobile collection stations and is provided to patients upon request at no extra charge. Genex's mobile service nurses are fully trained and experienced to perform both blood collection as well as buccal swab collections.

Highly Accurate

Genex guarantees that results obtained using buccal swab specimens are just as accurate as results obtained using blood specimens. A combined paternity index of 10,000 is guaranteed for paternity inclusions (>99.99%, often >99.999%). All paternity exclusions reported using buccal swab specimens guarantee 0% probability of paternity (CPI = 0) with exclusions at three or more loci. This standard exceeds the current required legal standards by greater than 100 fold and represents the most accurate form of paternity testing that is currently available.

No Delays in Processing

DNA paternity tests performed by Genex are completed within 3 to 7 business days, regardless of whether the specimens are blood or buccal cells.

Collection Protocol

Genex employs a strict protocol for chain-of-custody collection of buccal cells that is followed by all collection facilities to ensure that buccal swab samples are collected properly, preventing delays and recollection.

No Extra Charge

The buccal swab option is available upon request to all patients (infants, children, and adults) at no extra charge.

Patient Verification

Genex has established strict protocols to ensure that all patients are properly identified at the time of sample collection.