Other DNA Samples: Ask Before You Send
If you have an item that is not listed in our sample guide, a coordinator can review it. Alternative and non-standard samples are always assessed before submission, and acceptance depends on laboratory partner requirements as well as consent and the purpose of the test.
Sample type: Assessment required · Typical suitability: Assessment required
Examples we are asked about
Used tissues, drinking straws, razors, earbuds, bedding, teeth, bone and preserved tissue are among the items people ask about. Some may be workable in certain circumstances; others require specialized handling or are not accepted at all.
Teeth, bone and biological tissue are treated as specialized material. These always require laboratory partner review, and additional documentation may be requested before anything is shipped.
What we will ask
We generally need to know what the item is, who it belongs to, how it was obtained, how old it is, how it was stored, whether more than one person may have used it, and what the results will be used for.
What helps a sample
- Keep the item dry and handle it as little as possible.
- Do not clean, rinse or repackage it before review.
- Do not ship anything until acceptance and instructions are confirmed.
- Legal and official testing normally requires professional, witnessed collection instead.
FAQ
Questions about other samples samples
No sample can be guaranteed to produce a usable DNA profile. Laboratory analysis is performed by qualified, accredited laboratory partners, and acceptance of any report by a third party is not guaranteed.