Is a cheek swab as accurate as a blood test?
DNA is present in all living things from bacteria to plants to animals. In animals, it is found in almost all cell types: muscles, reproductive cells, hair roots, and skin cells – any cell that has a nucleus. The procedure for extracting DNA is the same, regardless of its source. Today the most common and preferred format for collecting a DNA sample is a buccal cheek swab. In fact, buccal swabs are so easy and effective that, according to the American Association of Blood Banks, of the reported nearly 1 million DNA samples processed by laboratories in 2006 over 98% were buccal cheek swabs and less than 1% were blood samples.* Here at MMI Genomics we have been on the forefront of DNA technology and have been using buccal cheek swabs for nearly 12 years with both consistent and accurate results.
