Today’s technology allows DNA testing labs to provide non-invasive DNA testing  using buccal swabs. Buccal swab DNA tests have many benefits over blood samples. They are easy to transport, easy to store, painless to collect, and as accurate as any blood sample. The benefits are leading to decreasing prices to consumers because of more efficient shipping and testing methods. However, DNA collection using buccal swabs still raises concerns among many consumers.
Many people still feel that DNA testing using a blood sample is the only accurate way of testing for relationships. We receive calls from clients who have completed non-invasive buccal swab tests with us. They don’t believe the test results and want to do the testing again using blood samples.
Non-invasive DNA testing using buccal swabs is as accurate as DNA testing using blood samples.
 According to AP article, “US mulls DNA tests for some refugees”, the Obama administration is considering restarting a program it implemented in 2007 which required DNA testing for some refugee applicants. This could affect a large number of new I-730 petitions.
The original program in 2007 asked thousands of African refugees to prove relatedness to their family members in the U.S. According to the program results, only 20% of Kenyan cases were able to prove relationships.
The USCIS already requests immigration DNA testing for many family based I-130 petitions. If families are not able to prove relatedness using primary documentation such as birth certificates, or if the immigration officer suspects fraud for a different reason, then DNA testing is requested.
This brings into question the cultural differences in relatedness. While U.S. citizens see only biological relatives as brothers or sisters, it is not always the same in other nations. The issue of cultural difference is resolved with the U.S. immigration rules and regulations for family-based petitions. Rules clearly explain that petitioners and beneficiaries must be biologically related.
DNA testing for refugees, if implemented, will require petitioners to have their DNA collected in the U.S. and the refugee or asylee to be collected at the U.S. Embassy overseas. This testing process must be facilitated by an accredited DNA testing company in the U.S.
In essence, DNA testing for refugees will help enforce immigration law, and it is likely to dishearten many refugee families at the same time.
Picture Credit: Center For Refugee Studies
 FAQ: “Can you help me determine if my brother is really my brother?”
The commonly asked question is followed by a slew of questions from one of our customer service representatives.
1. Do you believe you are full brother’s or half brother’s?
2. Do you believe you share a mother or a father?
3. Are either of your mother's available and willing to be tested?
4. Are any other known family members available and willing to be tested?
DNA relationship testing can be used as an effective tool at proving biological relationships. However, the conclusiveness of test results depends on a number of factor, the most important being the participants’ DNA profiles.
Ex. Sally and Mary believe they are half sisters, and that they share a father. The father is deceased, so a paternity test is not an option. Their mothers are not available for testing because they too are deceased. We have only one option to prove these girls are siblings.
Half vs. Unrelated Siblingship Test – We analyze and compare the DNA profiles of both women. This can lead to a couple outcomes. First, if they both have “common” genes, the results will be inconclusive, showing a probability of relatedness around 50%. Second, if they have “rare” genes, the results will be more conclusive since it is unlikely that unrelated people would share those genes.
If Sally and Mary believed they shared a mother, then we could do Mitochondrial DNA Testing. Mitochondrial DNA is passed down from mother to children, both boys and girls. However, only girls continue to pass it on to their children.
If Sally and Mary were men, then we could do Y-Chromosome DNA Testing. Y-Chrome DNA is passed down from fathers to sons. It continues through the male line, and it is not passed to females.
In Sally and Mary’s case, more participants would help the process, ideally one or both of their mothers. If not their mothers, one of their father’s sisters or brothers would help. The probability of getting a conclusive DNA test result in a half vs. unrelated sibling test is low, but it depends on the individuals being tested. They may share very rare alleles, making it very likely that they are related.
A growing concern among U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents who are petitioning loved ones from overseas is the issue of waiting times. Family-based immigration has become bogged down by excessive waiting time and country quotas which exacerbate those wait times.
According to the U.S. Visa Bulletin, U.S. citizens are entitled to apply for visas for spouses, children, and parents without regard to overall caps, but other close family members, including children over the age of 21, must wait years to reunite with loved ones. For example, an immigrant residing in the United States legally with a green card must currently wait at least five years to receive a green card for her minor child. A naturalized U.S. citizen from the Philippines must wait over 20 years before obtaining a green card for a brother or sister.
At the final interview, beneficiaries must show proof that they are biologically related to the petitioner. Primary and secondary evidence include birth records, photographs, insurance receipts, and anything else that offers proof. If primary and secondary evidence are not sufficient, then immigration officials will recommend DNA testing. If you speak with a qualified immigration attorney, they will tell you that certain factors increase your probability of needing a DNA test. Most factors involve issues with birth certificates or legal names.
If you suspect needing a DNA test for immigration you can start the process before the Embassy requests it. This way, when they do ask for it you already have the results you are looking for. This could save you 1-6 months of processing. This is not a ton of time relative to the 20 years it takes a Filipino to be reunited with her brother, but every second counts when you are trying to be together with your family.
 Clients call us all the time with questions about what we can and cannot use for DNA testing. Well, we can DNA test almost anything. There are a few questions we ask when clients have DNA samples for testing:
- How old is the sample?
- Who do you believe handled the sample?
- How is the sample being stored?
The answer to question 3 is almost always, “in a plastic bag”. It seems folks thinks the airtight quality of plastic bags makes them a safe bet for the storage of DNA samples. The truth is, almost all DNA samples should be stored in a paper bag and in a cool, dry place. Paper is breathable, so it prevents natural moisture buildup that can lead to bacteria growth. Bacteria is not good for DNA.
If you want to store a DNA sample, keep it in a paper bag or envelope. Store it in a cool dry place. Room temperature is usually fine and will keep the DNA viable for years. Keep in mind, if you intend to store the DNA sample for a very long period of time, colder is better. Here is a brief article about DNA storage.
If the DNA sample is yours, then it it alright to handle it. However, if the sample is from someone else you should make sure to wear gloves.
One other thing to mention is that these storage tips are for relationship testing needs. There are more stringent storage guidelines depending on your intentions for the DNA.
Feel free to visit our discreet DNA testing page for more information about non-standard DNA samples. Give us a call if you have questions about how to store or transport them.
 Customers want information to be fast, simple and convenient in today’s high technology society. On September 10, 2009, Boston Paternity launched a new mobile website, specifically designed to provide DNA testing information to individuals using mobile phones.
The mobile paternity test information site offers basic information about paternity testing, immigration DNA testing, and other relationship tests. “Our customers search for DNA testing information everywhere, explained John Quintal, President of Boston Paternity. “At home, work, school, or in their car, our clients can now access DNA testing information from anywhere.”
In celebrating the launch of the new website, Boston Paternity is offering a $50 discount on all DNA tests when customers mention the code located on the mobile website. You can find the code and claim the discount at Boston Paternity’s Mobile DNA Testing Site.
 DNA testing requires the collection of a sample from which DNA can be extracted, analyzed, and compared if necessary. One of the most common questions asked by our clients is, “How is the sample taken?” The truth is, DNA can be extracted from just about anything someone handles a fair amount. We’ve extracted DNA from cans, bottles, airbags, chewing gum, cigarette butts, razors, handguns, knives, underwear, shirts, and dozens of other items. But the answer we give clients is;
“We’re going to be doing a swab DNA test. Our collector will gently scrape the inside of your cheek with a buccal swab, which looks like a long Q-tip. The collector will collect four swabs for the DNA test.”
The client is either happy that we are not sticking a needle in their arm to draw blood, or concerned that a swab DNA test may not be as accurate as a blood DNA test. Below are 5 benefits of a swab DNA test versus a blood DNA test.
- Painless Sample Collection – Most people don’t like needles, shots or blood. It hurts a bit. Comparatively, a buccal swab is painless. It feels like a bristleless toothbrush on the inside of your cheek. I’ve already asked the manufacturer to create root beer flavored swabs. They are in the works.
- Simple Collection – Just about everybody can collect a DNA sample using a swab. In the case of drawing whole blood, the collector must be trained and often certified. This is not the case with a swab DNA test.
- Easy to Transport – Chances are the DNA test will not be completed in the same building you have your collection done. There are about 40 or so accredited DNA testing laboratories in the U.S., so your DNA sample will need to go to one of those labs for testing. Buccal swabs are much easier to ship than going through the time, hassle, and expense of shipping blood.
- Widely Available – I mentioned before there are about 40 accredited DNA labs. As far as I know, all of these labs can perform DNA testing on a blood sample. However, I’m willing to bet they would all prefer to test a cheek swab. The reason is that the newest relationship testing machinery is set up for swab DNA tests. It requires more work on the part of the laboratory staff to complete a DNA test using blood, which usually leads to longer turnaround time.
- Swabs Are As Accurate As Blood – Believe it or not, epithelial cells contain exactly the same DNA as blood cells, making DNA testing <99.9% accurate using either swabs or blood.
This entry is for anyone who has concerns about a swab DNA test. I assure you the results are accurate, and the results will most likely be available in a more timely manner. Not to mention the benefit of the flavored swab!
What flavor would you choose?
When I tell people I work for Boston Paternity, they usually come out with come smart comment like, “Ohhh you find baby’s daddies” or, “Do you do paternity testing for Maury?” I respond by telling people that some of what we do is related to paternity testing, and some of the stories are definitely Maury worthy. But Boston Paternity does more than test paternity. We help individuals and families with all sorts of relationship testing. “Relationship Testing”, as explained in the Ombudsman Annual Report 2009, is broader in scope than previously used terms like “parentage testing” or “paternity testing”. It’s more explanatory than “genetic testing” which describes the process of analyzing genetic markers for purposes other than proving relationships.
Used especially in the context of immigration, relationship testing refers to any test which provides evidence of a family relationship. “DNA testing” is the most accurate form of relationship testing.
Relationship testing includes paternity testing, and also incorporates maternity testing, siblingship testing, grandparentage testing, avuncular testing, and twins testing. The list goes on and on. Relationship DNA testing gives us the capability of proving close as well as distant biological relationships.
Next time someone tells you they work for a DNA testing company, you can come out with some smart comment like, “Ohhh you find baby’s mommies” or, “Do you do avuncular testing for Maury?”
This question comes up every week: “Can you do a DNA test on a hair sample?” Our customer service reps are always tell clients, “Yes, most of the time.” There is one primary factor that determines whether a DNA lab can perform a paternity test on hair.
The hair must be from the root.
Clients contact us and want to prove paternity without other individuals knowing. Usually, collecting a hair sample is the easiest way, but the hair must be plucked, or otherwise from the root.
We’ve had good success obtaining DNA from a hairbrush. We ask our clients to send us the entire brush, so our forensic analysts can collect an appropriate sample. This involves placing the hair under a microscope, and selecting the strands that contain a root. One thing to consider: The brush should have on ly one user; many people share their brush
with family members who have similar colored hair. It will be very difficult to determine which strand belongs who which person.
There is no nuclear DNA in a strand of hair that does not contain the root. Paternity testing cannot be completed without the root. However, we can complete maternity testing, because the hair contains mitochondrial DNA, which is passed on through female generations.
If you have a hairbrush that you want tested, I recommend sending the entire brush to a DNA lab, rather than pulling hair out yourself and sending it in. Forensic analysts are trained to collect and extract DNA from difficult samples.
Next time you’re unable to collect a cheek swab, consider a discreet paternity test using a hair sample.
 A news article in Dominican Today reported on Sunday that the New York Yankees voided a player’s contract after he “failed” a DNA test. On July 2, 2009 the Yanks reached a deal with Damian Arredondo, a switch-hitter who claimed to be 16 years old. Apparently, this kid took a DNA test that showed evidence he lied about his name and age.
This Yankees Blog gives some good information about the story.
This article really intrigues me for a couple of reasons. First, it’s amazing how in-depth these major league clubs are getting with background checks. I can see your typical physicals, drug tests, and intelligence tests, but now they’re introducing DNA? I can’t wait for Commissioner Selig to come forward and introduce the new MLB steroid….I mean DNA Testing Policy.
Second, how do they actually do the testing? You can’t just take Arredondo’s DNA sample and figure out his real name and age. You’d need to compare the DNA to someone he claimed he was related to. You’d need consent from his ‘alleged’ parents to perform paternity testing between Arredondo and his father.
What made the Yanks test this kid in the first place? He must have claimed he was Manny’s younger brother, so they decided so run a siblingship DNA test. BUSTED!
If anyone from the Yankees organization is reading this, Boston Paternity is more than happy to be a full-service DNA testing company for all your Dominican recruits.
|
