EAR WAX FOR DNA TESTING

Ear wax is a biological fluid secreted in the external ear canal. It is mainly composed of shed layers of skin, keratin, fatty acids, cholesterol and alcohols. Ear wax provides a rich source of mitochondrial DNA. It also has some nuclear DNA that can be used for DNA paternity testing. Ear wax can be used for DNA testing in the absence of a participant, offers an alternative to invasive acquisition of samples and has an 80% success rate. Ear wax is also advantgeous as it is non invasive, can be stored at room temperature for later testing, and is less prone to contamination since it’s not exposed to external environment. However, it does not yield as much genetic material as standard samples like blood or buccal swabs and the presence of wet and dry wax in different people ensures genetic variability.

How to Collect Teething Rings and Pacifiers for DNA testing

1. Use sterile cotton swabs or Q-tip to obtain ear wax from an individual. Collect 4 swabs from each individual.

2. Dry at room temperature.

3. Place the swabs in a clean paper envelope.

4. Label accordingly (name, collection date, reltionship).

5. Store the sample at room temperature and send to the laboratory for analysis.

DNA Testing Process

Acceptable DNA Samples