DNA itself does not change based on things like illness, stress, smoking, or medications. However, certain activities within 1 hour prior to sample collection can negatively affect the quality of the swabs. The following factors will not change the outcome of your DNA test results:
Age
Brush your teeth*
Drinking coffee, tea, or other beverages*
Eat or chew gum*
Fever
Influenza, COVID-19, or other illnesses
Jaundice
Prescription medication like antibiotics
Stress or lack of sleep
Using mouthwash*
Vaccinations
Whether you drink alcohol*
Whether you are a smoker*
*These activities can affect sample quality if done within one hour before collection, but they will not change your DNA or the test result itself.
Please note, all DNA paternity tests are run twice for accuracy and results reports are only released if identical results are obtained after each testing round. If there are ever any issues with the samples submitted (ie. not enough DNA on the swabs, contamination, excess degradation, etc.) the results report will not be released. Instead, you will receive an email notification requesting a sample recollection.