Generally specimens can be collected for each individual at a facility convenient to his or her place of residence. PTC normally uses buccal swabs to collect your specimen. The buccal swab is similar to a Q-tip, and it is rubbed up and down on the inside of the cheek of your mouth. The swab collects loose cheek cells. PTC uses swabs because they are less invasive.
People generally prefer the swabs, rather than being stuck with a needle to draw blood.
Our swabs are gentle. Not all paternity laboratories offer swabs, and some laboratories that do offer swabs charge extra to use them. PTC has always offered swabs for specimen collection, at no extra charge. Because your DNA is the same throughout your body, the paternity test provides the same accuracy regardless of the type of specimen used. Thus, it makes no difference in the outcome whether the specimen is obtained from cheek swabs or from blood.