Add-Ons & Special Samples
Optional extras that attach to a base DNA test — add another participant, or have the lab work from a non-standard sample when a cheek swab isn't possible.
These are add-ons, not standalone tests. Each one attaches to a base DNA test (such as a paternity, siblingship, or infidelity service) and only makes sense as part of that order. On its own, an add-on does not produce a result.
Order the base test that answers your question first, then add any of the options below in the same order.
Add-Ons & Special Samples tests
Additional Tested Party
Adding one more person to a relationship test
- Participants:
- One additional participant
Unusual Sample Processing — Tier A
Submitting a non-standard sample instead of a cheek swab (Tier A)
- Participants:
- One non-standard sample
Unusual Sample Processing — Tier B
Submitting a more challenging non-standard sample (Tier B)
- Participants:
- One non-standard sample
Unusual Sample Processing — Tier C
Submitting the most difficult non-standard sample (Tier C)
- Participants:
- One non-standard sample
How it works
- 1
Order your kit
Choose your test and check out online. No appointment or doctor's order needed.
- 2
We ship within 1 business day
Your collection kit ships free with cheek swabs, step-by-step instructions, and a return mailer.
- 3
Collect samples at home
Each participant gently swabs the inside of their cheek. Painless and takes about a minute per person.
- 4
Mail samples to the lab
Drop your samples in the mail using the supplied envelope. Prepaid Return Mailer or FedEx Overnight Label Provided. Lab processing time starts when the lab receives your samples.
- 5
Receive results securely
The lab sends your report to us and we forward it to you privately by email.
Who uses this test
Add-ons cover two common situations:
- Additional tested party — when your test needs more than the standard set of participants, for example a second possible father, the mother, or an extra child. Pricing is per additional person.
- Unusual sample processing (Tier A, B, or C) — when a participant can't give a standard cheek swab and you need the lab to attempt DNA recovery from a non-standard sample instead. Pricing is per sample and reflects how much lab work the sample is likely to need.
If you're not sure whether you need an add-on, start with the base test — most orders don't need one.
What you’ll need
- A base DNA test in the same order — add-ons cannot be purchased on their own
- For an additional party: a cheek swab from each extra participant
- For a non-standard sample: the sample itself, packaged per the kit instructions
- Realistic expectations — DNA recovery from non-standard samples is never guaranteed
Accuracy & methodology
Add-ons don't change how the underlying test works — they extend it.
- Additional tested party gives the lab more reference data, which often makes a relationship result more conclusive.
- Unusual sample processing is graded into tiers by how difficult recovery is likely to be. The lab determines the final tier once it receives and assesses your sample; if your sample needs more work than the tier you purchased, we'll contact you before proceeding. Recovery from non-standard samples can fail, and no add-on guarantees a usable result.
All testing is performed by our accredited partner laboratory, and every add-on inherits the same peace-of-mind, informational positioning as the base test it attaches to.
Testing is performed by our AABB-accredited partner laboratory.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I order an add-on on its own?
- No. Add-ons attach to a base DNA test and produce no result on their own. Add the base test that answers your question to your cart first, then include any add-ons in the same order.
- Do I actually need an add-on?
- Most orders don't. Add a tested party only if your test needs an extra participant, and add unusual sample processing only if someone genuinely can't provide a standard cheek swab. If in doubt, contact us before ordering and we'll help.
- What's the difference between Tier A, B, and C?
- The tiers reflect how much laboratory work a non-standard sample is likely to need — Tier A is the most straightforward, Tier C the most intensive. The lab confirms the correct tier once it assesses your sample, and we'll reach out if it differs from what you ordered.
- What happens if the lab can't get DNA from my sample?
- Recovery from non-standard samples is never guaranteed. If the lab can't obtain usable DNA, it will report that outcome to you. Because of this uncertainty, we recommend a standard cheek swab whenever it is possible.
Related tests & legal note
Not sure which base test to start with? Browse our paternity, siblingship, grandparentage, and lineage tests, then add any extras here in the same order.
Need results for a custody case, child support, immigration, or any other legal matter? An at-home test cannot be used for those purposes. You'll need a court-approved, chain-of-custody DNA test performed through an accredited laboratory, where a neutral third party verifies every participant's identity and handles the samples.
Privacy & data handling
Your privacy matters to us, and DNA information is among the most sensitive personal data there is.
- Samples are used only to perform the test you ordered and are destroyed after testing is complete. <!-- TODO: confirm exact sample-retention window with fulfillment lab before publishing -->
- Results are delivered privately by email and are never sold, rented, or shared with third parties for marketing.
- Your DNA data is treated as sensitive personal information. While at-home, informational tests are generally not covered by HIPAA, we handle your results with comparable care.
- You can request deletion of your records at any time by contacting us.