Home DNA testing?

I'm sorry to break the news to you, but there is no such thing as home DNA testing. The technology and equipment involved in producing a DNA testing result is highly specialist and at minimum costs in the region of $250,000. In addition to the equipment there is an additional requirement in trained laboratory scientists, and ultra clean DNA testing facilities.

When most people refer to 'home DNA testing' they are presumably referring to the process of obtaining samples for the testing process. This can very much be done at home, as long as the test result in not expected to be used in a court (click here for a full explanation). The process usually involves taking a cotton wool bud, and scraping some cheek cells onto it, for analysis.

Alternative sources of DNA material for testing include, plucked hair (the DNA of interest is only present in the root of the hair), blood stain/sample, saliva sample (not a stain - there is usually insufficient material in a stain) and semen. Any of these sample types will provide a source material, which can be amplified, tested and compared against similar material obtained from the disputed father or mother.