Step by Step Guide

Step by Step Guide

5 easy steps to performing a paternity test...

The dadcheck® service uses mouth swabs to determine biological relationships. No blood samples are necessary.

 

Step 1. Place your order

Order a dadcheck® DNA test – over the phone, by mail, fax or email.  Once the order has been received, your bespoke sampling kit(s) will be dispatched to the address(es) specified.  If an order is placed before 1pm on any working day, then we can usually guarantee that the sampling kits and associated paperwork are dispatched the very same day.

Step 2. Take the samples

This is the easy bit!  Ensure that your donor has a clean mouth before sampling and wherever possible not to have smoked any tobacco products or drank any caffeinated or alcoholic drinks in the hour before sampling.  Where a young baby is being swabbed, if you could try to arrange with the mother/guardian to sample the baby before a feed, this will greatly reduce the chances of problems later down the line in the laboratory processing stage.

To take a buccal (cheek cell) sample, simply take the personalised, sterile swab out of its container and gently rub it on the inside of both cheeks in a circular motion for a count of ten (10) strokes on each cheek.  For babies, if this is proving difficult, gently ‘swivel’ the swab around between the inside of the bottom lower lip and the baby’s gums.  Once you have taken the sample place the swab back into its container. Please note we have provided two swabs per person – please use both and send both back to us in the envelope provided.

 

Step 3. Sign the consent forms

Please make sure that at the time of sampling, all individuals put forward for testing, e.g. the alleged father, mother and child, take in two (2) passport sized photos of themselves in order for the person taking their samples, e.g. GP, practice nurse or social worker, to sign in order to warrant their identity.  If you are taking the samples for your client, read the instructions carefully and ensure that all the donors sign their respective consent forms, including the person with Parental Responsibility for the child.

Step 4. Send them back to us

Place the consent forms alongside the swabs in the envelope provided and post it back to dadcheck®. We recommend that samples are sent back via recorded delivery to guarantee they don’t get lost in the post.

Step 5. Receive your results

Once the swabs have been returned to the dadcheck® laboratories with the correctly completed consent forms, it will take between 5 and10 working days before we get a result to you (unless you have opted for one of our Premium Services).  The contracting party and all adult parties tested (including the person giving consent on behalf of a child under the age of 16) are entitled to receive a written copy of the results.  It is usual practice for all original reports to be sent to the contracting party for distribution.  The person who ordered the test can also receive the results over the phone, if so desired.  If extra reports are required, a small administration fee will apply.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call us.  We would be pleased to help.