Why spit instead of a swab?
You may have seen TV shows like CSI where investigators use a swab to collect a DNA sample from inside the cheek. Or perhaps you have been to a doctor’s office where they use a swab for the collection of DNA. This method is useful; however, it may lead to contamination by bacteria in your mouth. Saliva actually has fewer bacterial contaminants than the lining of your cheek. Collecting saliva allows us to preserve and store samples until we assemble enough samples for processing.
