DNA Hair Testing

DNA tests using Buccal swab are normally used in home testing kits for deciding paternity issues however DNA hair testing techniques utilize totally different procedures. DNA hair testing gives results that are as reliable and accurate as that obtained using standard methods of DNA testing. One important requirement for this is that you must ensure the samples used belong to the individual being tested because the chances of hair sample getting mixed up with somebody’s hair are high when they are in the same area. If it is not possible to carry out swab tests it is necessary to find an alternate method of testing; one of which is the testing the concerned person’s hair.

DNA hair testing is also commonly used in criminal investigations because hair can often be inadvertently left at the scene of a crime. The difficulty in this is that there is a necessity to demonstrate that the hair that was found is that of the criminal. Hair is also relatively resilient, and can often be used to identify a corpse which is otherwise hard to identify, provided that the DNA exists in a database somewhere.

It is rarely necessary to use hair in a standard paternity case, because it will usually be a simple matter to take a swab in the normal way as all individuals are usually available and willing to take the test. Swabs cause no pain, are easily usable and you can mail them to the testing center without any problems. You need to explore other methods of DNA testing only when the any of the concerned parties refuse to give samples on their own or the parties are not physically available. If you have a hair sample that can be forwarded to the testing center the results will be exactly as if a swab had been taken.

DNA Swab Test Results

DNA Hair Testing Reliability

In many family cases it becomes necessity to trace back the bloodline for a number of generations thereby making such cases very complicated. Bodies of family members would have deteriorated and decomposed and for such cases DNA hair testing samples are ideal since hair does not deteriorate for a very long time This kind of testing becomes necessary to find out whether the strands of DNA of the person who has expired match with any of the known family members.

The initial DNA test must provide correct results as the only available sample is often destroyed during the test. If more of the sample is available you can go for a retest; however it is rare to have additional hair strands available. DNA hair testing gives you the most reliable and accurate results once you determine that the sample hair is that of the correct person. In case you use this as evidence in a court case, you must document the DNA hair testing procedures and its results are performed and documented properly.