DNA testing assist the adoption community in providing valuable information for those who are seeking for answers. DNA testing may be used to identify and reunite the adopted to their biological family members, uncover medical history, or help individuals gain peace of mind.

Reuniting with one’s biological family is one event in adoption cases that often requires DNA testing. Particularly with cases from before the 1980s, information on the biological families of adopted children was hard to access and many people relied on what little facts they knew about the adoption cases to locate biological family members. DNA testing makes it possible for adopted children and their biological families to definitively confirm their biological relationships. In addition to discovering their biological families, adopted children can also learn about their families’ medical history. If adopted children know who their biological families are, they can determine the genetic health risks they may have. If they do not know who their biological families are or the health risks their families may have passed on to them, adopted children can undergo genetic screening. Genetic screening allows scientists to review adopted children’s DNA to locate potential illnesses or health concerns that they may have inherited from their biological families. Finally, DNA testing is often used in adoption cases to provide peace of mind to individuals. Sometimes biological family members and adopted children do not want to be reunited, but they would prefer having the peace of mind of knowing their origins. Sometimes this peace of mind is accompanied by a desire to learn about the family medical history.

This latest method identification testing do not require the use of blood samples as a DNA source. Rather, it is obtained from the internal wall of the cheek by gently rubbing with a strerile cotton buccal swab. The DNA extracted fromthe cells of the mouth is as good as blood DNA for parenting testing. Sample collection is simple and inoffensive (blood is not required). Samples from small children and even babies can be easily and safely collected without professional assistance.The sample is easily shipped to the Laboratory. Sample is collected with total discretion and comfort.