A DNA test involves essentially 3 steps:
1. SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Court Ready Twin Zygosity Test - Once we have received your order, our Scheduling Department will contact all tested parties to arrange for a specimen collection appointment at one of our 500 convenient specimen collection sites.
Tested parties will need to bring the following to their appointment:
The cheek swab samples are obtained by rubbing long cotton-tipped applicators around the inside of the mouth of each party to be tested. The procedure is painless and takes less than 2 minutes per person.
Curiosity Twin Zygosity Test – Once we have received your order, we will send specimen collection kits to each party indicated on the application form. Specimen Collection Instructions will be provided with the kits. There is no extensive chain of custody procedure to follow because the tests are being conducted for the client’s own knowledge and do not need to be accepted in court. The cheek swab samples are obtained by rubbing long cotton-tipped applicators around the inside of the mouth of each party to be tested. The procedure is painless and takes less than 2 minutes per person. Once the samples have been collected, the clients send the kits back to Orchid Cellmark in the packaging provided with the kits.
2. LABORATORY TESTING
Once the samples are received by our laboratory, the following steps occur:
- Samples are assigned a unique bar code and are logged into our laboratory database
- Samples and paperwork are examined for completeness
- Samples are analyzed
- DNA profiles are triple checked
- Reports are generated
- Final report is verified by Ph.D. Laboratory Director
3. DISTRIBUTION OF RESULTS
Upon completion of the test, results will be distributed to the person who requested the test by mail.