Swabs, FTA Card or Collect and Send Swabs

We currently offer two types of collection kits, a traditional swab or FTA card technology.  The accuracy of the test is the same, each kit has their own unique advantage and disadvantage..

Swabs are very simple to use.  Simply swab the inside of mouth and you are done.  Swabs work best for very young children.

FTA Cards are a little more complicated to use and requires more attention to detail, while the swabs are more forgiving.  The FTA preserves the DNA for along period of time.  If shipping long distances, or you want to collect one sample now and the other sample later, the FTA card is a good choice.  FTA cards are easier to process, so it you want the test done quickly use the FTA card.  The foam tip sponge associated with the FTA card has a large surface area and more difficult to get into very young mouths.

DNA paternity test FTA card DNA collection kits: Paternity Experts' DNA sample collection kits include foam tipped swabs and a FTA card. The foam tipped swabs are used to acquire buccal cells (cheek cells) from the inside of the mouth.  DNA samples are collected by swabbing the inside of the mouth to remove buccal cells. 

This procedure is painless and noninvasive.  The buccal cells are then transferred onto the FTA card.  The FTA card is pink and will turn white when you have correctly transferred the DNA.  You will throw the swabs in the trash and mail the FTA card to Paternity Experts to analyze.  Once the DNA material is on the FTA card it will be stable at room temperature for years therefore, shipping the DNA samples via mail is never a problem.

Speed:  FTA card technology allows for rapid DNA processing. Once the FTA card is received by Paternity Experts laboratory we use a small punch (Harris punch) to remove a 1.2 mm circle directly from the card.  The 1.2 mm punched circle is washed and the DNA paternity testing proceeds directly on the washed 1.2 mm punch.  This process is much more efficient then what other laboratories use. Most other companies use swabs.  Swabs require an extensive hands-on processing.  For example, once a swab is received, the tip of the swab is it cut off and placed into a microcentrifuge tube containing lysis buffer.  The cells containing the DNA are lysed, usually overnight.  The DNA is then removed from the lysis buffer by precipitating the DNA.  The precipitated DNA is washed, dried and then resuspended.  The DNA concentration of the newly resuspened DNA must be determined before being used for DNA testing.  It generally, takes 8-16 hours to extract DNA from a swab.  The processing time for the FTA card is 30 minutes.  This means when we use the FTA card we can start the PCR reaction the same day we receive the samples.

Safe: The FTA-treated matrix has the unique ability to kill blood-borne pathogens and protect genomic DNA from microbial and environmental degradation, allowing for long-term storage of DNA material at room temperature. The FTA-treated card offers the safest and most cost-effective method available for the transport of DNA specimens.  This unique system is the only one of its kind that has been formally approved by the U.S. Postal Service.

Sample Collection Instructions

The DNA collection process is the most important step - you must take care that enough sample gets transferred to the FTA card for analysis and that the sample you collect is uncontaminated. If you are unsure about any step in the collection process, please call us toll free at 866-344-8378.

IMPORTANT:  Avoid touching the FTA card within the pink circled areas.

Step 1:  Write the initials (or names) of the individuals being tested on the outside flap of the FTA card in the white circle area.  Write AF by the alleged father's initials and C by the child's initials. For example, if the alleged father's name is Mike Smith, the initials on the FTA card would be AFMS. If the child's name is Alex Smith the initials would be CAS. 

Step 2:
 

Remove the swab from the package. 
DO NOT TOUCH THE FOAM TIP. 

Step 3:  Firmly rub one side of the swab against the inside of the cheek at least four times. Rub the other side of the swab against the inside of the other cheek. Also run the swab between the gum line and the fold of the cheek and even under the tongue. Soak up as much saliva as you can. You must use a different swab for each person who is being tested.

Step 4:  Firmly press the foam tip of the swab onto the pink circled area of the FTA card. Turn the swab over and press again in the same circle. Press firmly to transfer as much DNA and saliva as possible; you can use the cover of the FTA card to press down on the swab
Do not rub or grind the swab into the FTA card.

DO NOT PLACE THE FTA CARD IN PLASTIC

Note: The FTA card is treated with a chemical that makes it appear pink. When saliva and DNA are present the FTA card will slowly turn white. It is not necessary to make the entire circle turn white. Once the DNA is placed within the pink circle, it is bound there and will not move. Saliva may soak through the card and even reach the other circle, but the DNA will not move. Once the DNA is on the FTA card the DNA will be stable for 5 years.

Things that could delay your results

Our goal is to give you accurate results.  We make every effort to get results back to you within the specified time period.  However, sometimes tests have to be repeated to get accurate results.  If your test has to be repeated, this may take 2-5 days per repeat, and more than one repeat may be necessary.  If we are unable to get the sample to work after two tries, we will contact you to request that the sample be collected again.  

These are things that cause test repeats: 

If it is obvious that you disregard the directions for collecting the DNA samples, you will be charged $35.00 for a replacement kit to recollect the samples. 

Other things that may delay results: Requester’s Contact Information form is not re-turned with the sample.