Can I Use any Hair DNA Sample in a DNA Paternity Test?
In cases where you cannot obtain a standard saliva sample than hair could be an option. However, hair is not the most straightforward of samples. It is a sample that can easily be collected from a hair brush if for example, a test participant lives abroad. However, although the success rate with a hair sample is around 60%, this success rate is calculated under optimal circumstances. This means that hairs sent in would be at least 5 in number and more importantly, have the root or hair follicle attached. If the root is not attached it is highly unlikely that it can be used. The hair fiber does not have nucleated cells as nucleated cells are only found in the root. However, the hair fiber contains what is known as mitochondrial DNA even if it does not have the root. Whilst Mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) could be used for DNA testing, its use is exclusive to finding whether individuals share the same maternal lineage and thus, MtDNA samples do not find use in any other tests such as paternity
