Private Hair Follicle Paternity DNA Testing From Home
Can you do a paternity test with hair?
Yes, when the hair contains the root or follicle. The follicle is where the DNA is. Hair from a haircut, hair without roots, or clippings from a brush that only has broken shafts will not work, because those samples do not include the cells that hold the DNA. This kit is designed for hair that includes the root, pulled from the head or the beard rather than cut.
How much hair is needed for a DNA test?
Submit 25 to 50 strands with visible roots. More is better than less. If you can't verify roots on every strand by looking at them, send extra, because the lab will pick the viable ones during forensic review. You can also send the entire hairbrush or comb, as long as you're confident only the person being tested has used it. Contamination from another user makes the sample unusable.
What kind of hair works
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Head hair with the root or follicle attached, pulled rather than cut.
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Beard hair with the follicle attached, either pulled or captured on a used electric razor.
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Hair captured in a hairbrush the person uses regularly.
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Body hair with root attached, less common but works when other sources aren't available.
What kind of hair does not work
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Hair from a haircut. The stylist's scissors cut above the follicle, so the sample has no root.
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Hair from a hat, pillow, or clothing where you can't verify roots are attached.
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Hair mixed with another person's hair (a shared hairbrush, for example).
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Hair chemically treated to the point of severe damage, though this is rare and the lab evaluates case by case.
How to store hair before shipping
Store the hair sample dry in a paper envelope. Never put hair in a Ziploc, plastic bag, or airtight plastic container. Moisture trapped in plastic degrades DNA quickly. Keep the envelope at room temperature, away from direct sun or heat, until you're ready to ship.
How accurate is a hair follicle paternity test?
When viable DNA is recovered, hair follicle paternity testing runs on the same 24 DNA genetic markers as standard cheek swab paternity testing. When paternity is confirmed, results typically show a 99.999% or higher probability of paternity. When paternity is excluded, the exclusion is 100%. Accuracy is not lower than a cheek swab test once a viable profile has been extracted from the hair follicles.
The variable is not accuracy. It's whether the hair sample yields a viable profile in the first place. That depends entirely on how many roots are present and how the sample was stored before shipping.
What happens if the hair sample doesn't yield enough DNA
Your dedicated DNA specialist contacts you before any additional lab work is done. You can submit a fresh hair sample, switch to a different alternative sample type, or discuss whether the participant might be willing to provide a cheek swab after all. Each additional viability review is subject to an extra lab fee, and nothing is charged without your approval.
Get Private Paternity Answers
Order your Hair Follicle Home Paternity DNA Test Kit today for a private, guided testing experience.
My Forever DNA® at-home DNA tests are for informational relationship testing unless a legal chain-of-custody DNA test is purchased. Informational results are not court-admissible. DNA tests are not medical devices and do not diagnose, treat, prevent, or assess medical conditions. Hair follicle and other alternative sample viability may vary. Additional samples or fees may be required.
