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HOW TO COLLECT YOUR DNA SAMPLE
DNA Double Helix
Instructions are provided in the DNA kits from Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and the Genographic Project (Geno2.0) for how to collect your DNA sample. FTDNA and the Genographic Project use cheek swabs and 23andMe and AncestryDNA use saliva samples. However, you may be curious what to expect, or want some additional direction when you are about to collect your DNA sample, so you don't mess it up. I've pulled together some instructions and YouTube videos here.
The cheek swab feels like you are rubbing a toothbrush on the inside of your cheek. It's good to rub well (but not so that you abrade your cheek), to obtain lots of cells, but it doesn't hurt. Note that obtaining a saliva sample from the elderly, frail, or young children may be difficult, so bear this in mind when deciding which company to use.
Irrespective of whether a cheek swab or saliva sample is used by the testing company, it is important not to eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth, chew gum, or use mouthwash for at least 1 hour before taking the samples. When a cheek swab is used, the majority of cells from which the DNA is extracted are epithelial cells from the cheek; in contrast, the majority of the cells analyzed in the saliva sampling methods are white blood cells that are found naturally in saliva, rather than epithelial cheek cells.
See also Shipping DNA Kits, where it is recommended to indicate "Genealogy Sample" if you need to complete a customs form. Other descriptions that have not caused any issues or duty payable include "DNA Samples of no commercial value" and "Cotton Swabs".
The cheek swab feels like you are rubbing a toothbrush on the inside of your cheek. It's good to rub well (but not so that you abrade your cheek), to obtain lots of cells, but it doesn't hurt. Note that obtaining a saliva sample from the elderly, frail, or young children may be difficult, so bear this in mind when deciding which company to use.
Irrespective of whether a cheek swab or saliva sample is used by the testing company, it is important not to eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth, chew gum, or use mouthwash for at least 1 hour before taking the samples. When a cheek swab is used, the majority of cells from which the DNA is extracted are epithelial cells from the cheek; in contrast, the majority of the cells analyzed in the saliva sampling methods are white blood cells that are found naturally in saliva, rather than epithelial cheek cells.
See also Shipping DNA Kits, where it is recommended to indicate "Genealogy Sample" if you need to complete a customs form. Other descriptions that have not caused any issues or duty payable include "DNA Samples of no commercial value" and "Cotton Swabs".
Family Tree DNA
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Collection sample: cheek swab
Release Form: required. A green paper copy is provided with the kit (PDF of this), but there also seems to be an electronic version (accessible Here if you are logged into your account and haven't yet returned your kit/paper form), which has similar although not identical wording. Even if you haven't bought a kit from Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), you can access these FTDNA Test Kit Instructions. This page includes the YouTube video opposite, as well as step-by-step instructions. One of the (minor) criticisms of the video is that it gives the impression that you only have to swab for a few seconds. But as I recall, the instructions are that you should rub for about 30-60 seconds, so make sure you swab for long enough, to obtain adequate samples and minimize the chance that sufficient DNA can't be extracted (in which case, another kit will be sent to you from the company at no charge). Before you open the packaging for the swab, it's worthwhile unscrewing the cap of the tube slightly, to make it easier when you are ready to eject the swab after scraping your cheek. Two swabs are used to take samples, and the instructions indicate to do the cheek rubbings at least 3-4 hours apart. In the event you are helping someone else with their test, you can get around this and do both at the same time – in this case, use one swab for one side, and the other swab for the opposite cheek. Also, check out the excellent video below for the Genographic Project, as the process for taking the samples is identical. |
How to Take a Family Tree DNA Test (4:10)
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Genographic Project
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Collection sample: cheek swab
Consent Form: required (paper copy, see Here) Except for the box that the kit comes in, taking the sample for testing at the Genographic Project (Geno2.0) is identical to those for Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) above. So read those and watch the video here (and also the one above). The Consent Form and instructions for taking the samples are available Here, with the cheek-swabbing instructions duplicated below. Before you open the packaging for the swab, it's worthwhile unscrewing the cap of the tube slightly, to make it easier when you are ready to eject the swab after scraping your cheek. 
Cheek-swabbing Instructions provided by the Genographic Project
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How to Do a DNA Test (Genographic Project) (7:17)
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23andMe
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Collection sample: saliva
Consent Form: required (on-line) 23andMe provides instructions on Providing Your Saliva Sample, some of which are duplicated below. During the registration of your kit on 23andMe's website, you will have to agree to the Terms of Service and make your consent selections for Research and Sample Storage (see Here). See the YouTube video opposite which shows the kit and for the process for collecting your saliva sample. 
Saliva sample collection at 23andMe
NOTE: For those who aren't able to spit into a tube (such as young children and some elderly subjects) 23andMe has Assisted Collection Kits, which cost an additional $25.
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How to Take a 23andMe Test (3:35)
Tips and Tricks for Providing Your Sample
If you find it difficult to produce sufficient saliva, 23andMe provides some tips:
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AncestryDNA
Collection sample: saliva
Consent Form: required (on-line)
See also Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions
AncestryDNA has a Help article How do I collect my DNA for the new AncestryDNA test? Their buffer is actually blue, so it's easy to see in Step 4 (below) that it has mixed with the saliva sample. If you find it difficult to produce sufficient saliva, see above (in the 23andMe section) for some tips.
Consent Form: required (on-line)
See also Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions
AncestryDNA has a Help article How do I collect my DNA for the new AncestryDNA test? Their buffer is actually blue, so it's easy to see in Step 4 (below) that it has mixed with the saliva sample. If you find it difficult to produce sufficient saliva, see above (in the 23andMe section) for some tips.
Saliva Sample Collection Instructions at AncestryDNA (Panel 1)
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Saliva Sample Collection Instructions at AncestryDNA (Panel 2)
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IMAGE DETAILS (DNA Double Helix): This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Apers0n at the English Wikipedia project. This applies worldwide. This image is in the public domain because it contains materials that originally came from the National Institutes of Health.
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Page updated 21 September 2014 |
