What is a DNA test oral swab?

What is a DNA test oral swab?


Oral swab is what most people know as cheek swab DNA

Technical term for testing. You may have seen it called a cheek swab, buccal swab or oral smear test, but they all refer to the same procedure. The way it works is that a swab collects a sample of cells from the inside of the cheek, which contains
DNA information in the form of oral epithelial cells. Oral sample swabs are often the first choice for those seeking DNA testing because they are much less invasive than blood tests.





Common uses of oral swabs


Buccal swabs are used in a variety of different DNA testing scenarios. Some of these include:


Forensic testing


genealogy test


Predictive tests for certain diseases and conditions


Carrier testing for certain diseases and conditions


Paternity Testing


In some cases, more advanced tests, such as blood or saliva tests, may be required. For most DNA tests for ancestry or nutrition guidance, a buccal swab sample or collection can provide all the necessary information.


How well do swabs and blood tests work?


Depending on the purpose of the DNA test, a blood sample may be required instead of a cheek swab or saliva sample. The blood test is obviously more invasive as it requires a needle to take the blood. While you might think a blood test is more accurate, cheek swabs can actually be just as accurate when performed properly.


It's also important to note that saliva-based DNA tests are not the same as oral swabs. While it's forgivable to assume they do the same thing, the tests involved in a saliva sample are different from a mouth swab. If you do the cheek swab test yourself, make sure you only wipe the cheek and try to avoid getting saliva on it.