Although it is normal for different studies to yield different results, we can all agree that sexual infidelity is the number one cause for divorce in the US and worldwide. According to one recent study, around 22% of men and 14% of women committed an adulterous act at least once in their married lives. When it comes to younger generations, these numbers are considerably higher.
Around 36% of men and women had an affair with a co-worker and 36% of all infidelities were committed during business trips. Note that this data is based on people who actually admitted to their adulterous acts, so the real numbers may be much higher.
Having said that, modern DNA testing has allowed us to remove any guesswork from our love lives and use the latest scientific achievements to test our partners’ fidelity from the privacy of our homes. Keep reading to learn how infidelity DNA tests work and find the best provider for your specific needs.
How Do Infidelity DNA Tests Work?
After receiving relevant genetic samples, DNA testing providers utilize a procedure called polymerase chain reaction or PCR to replicate and amplify the received specimen.
In other words, the technicians use PCR to amplify specific DNA segments and create thousands or even millions of copies. This is achieved by using thermal cycling, which simply means exposing the reactants to repeated heating and cooling cycles in order to cause two temperature-dependent reactions – DNA melting and enzyme-driven DNA replication.
This method was initially developed in molecular biology and currently has a wide variety of uses, including forensics and DNA cloning for sequencing. In other words, if you ever did an ancestry or health-related DNA test, your provider had to use PCR to sequence your genome before examining specific genetic markers and potential mutations.
Lastly, since PCR can literally replicate required DNA segments, even the smallest samples of genetic material can be used to reliably establish certain facts that will help you discover whether your partner is cheating on you or not.
What Types Of Samples Can Be Used For Infidelity DNA Testing?
DNA samples can be extracted from a wide variety of biological materials, which makes the entire process a lot easier for the customer. Infidelity testing falls under the so-called forensic screening that usually has no legal validity unless you can confirm the authenticity of the sample through a proper chain of custody. This means you cannot use these results as proof in court proceedings.
Note that the official turnaround time listed on the website of your chosen provider only applies for cheek swabs and/or saliva samples. If you opt to send anything else, your report might take a bit more time, depending on the sample. Also, when you see companies talking about “discreet DNA samples”, they are usually referring to alternative biological materials we are about to list here.
Finally, your chosen sample might prove to be unsuitable for testing if it does not contain enough DNA segments for replication and analysis or has been contaminated with other chemicals. Old DNA samples can also be a problem in some cases.
With all that out of the way, let us take a look at all discreet samples that can be used to prove the potential infidelity of your partner:
- Semen – Fresh swab, frozen vials or semen on fabric. This is especially useful if you notice unknown stains on your partner’s clothes or your bedding and wish to check whether they are semen stains or not.
- Bloodstains on fabric – This includes gauze, bandages, napkins or facial tissues like Kleenex.
- Nail clippings – In order to conduct a successful analysis, the lab will require at least 5-10 nail clippings.
- Hair with roots – The processing lab will require at least 7-10 hairs for a successful procedure. Note that the genetic material can only be found in the hair follicle, so shed or cut hair is not a viable sample.
- Razors – Both electric and disposable razors can be used for infidelity DNA testing. If you are using a disposable razor as a sample, make sure to send the entire blade to your chosen provider.
- Cigarette butts – Cigarette butts are usually viable for DNA extraction, but some types and/or brands might be unable to retain enough biological materials for a successful procedure.
- Chewing gums – If you are using chewing gums, your chances of success are much higher with sugarless brands.
- Mucus – It is usually sent on a napkin, Kleenex or paper towel.
- Condoms – Depending on the contents and storage conditions.
- Toothbrush – Toothbrushes are usually rich in genetic materials, but make sure to air-dry them completely before shipping.
- Drinking glasses/soda cans/plastic containers – You can either swab the area thoroughly and send the swabs to the lab or send the entire item with a clearly marked contact area.
- Tampons/feminine pads – Air-dry completely before shipping.
- Drinking straws – Air-dry completely before shipping.
Apart from the samples listed here, a successful DNA analysis can also be performed on different tissues (muscle, organs), bones, and teeth, but those are all highly unlikely to be used as a part of fidelity testing.
The usual turnaround time is between 2 and 5 business days, but it could take longer, depending on your chosen sample. Note that all the samples we mentioned should be shipped in paper envelopes, except for chewing gum, which should be sealed in a plastic Ziploc bag. It is also very important to avoid any unnecessary contact between your chosen sample and the environment in order to prevent potential contamination.
Infidelity DNA Test Results
It is very important to understand the overall reach of infidelity DNA testing before choosing a suitable provider. Namely, DNA tests will not be able to provide you with a definitive answer whether your partner is cheating or not, but they can give you a lot of useful information that will help you draw your own conclusions.
With that in mind, this is what infidelity DNA tests can do for you:
- Donor identification – Your testing provider can compare two (or more) DNA samples to determine whether they belong to the same person. One of these samples is normally from a known individual while others come from unknown donors.
- Gender profile testing – By testing the amelogenin sex gene, your provider will be able to determine whether the provided sample contains male or female DNA. These tests usually yield mixed profiles with DNA samples belonging to more than one person.
- Human or non-human testing – Infidelity DNA tests can also confirm whether the received sample contains human genetic material since sometimes the samples contain no DNA whatsoever.
The Best Infidelity DNA Tests
Instead of delving into the complicated world of DNA testing yourself, you can take a look at our list of recommendations and simply choose the optimal provider for your needs:
EasyDNA – The price of the test with cheek swabs is 299$ while the pricing varies if you opt for alternative samples (80$+).
DDC – DNA Diagnostic Center features two different infidelity tests, but you have to call the company directly in order to determine the pricing based on your particular circumstances.
Who’zTheDaddy – The price of the infidelity test starts at 469$.
Apart from infidelity tests, all the companies we mentioned also include a wide variety of different testing solutions, including (legal) paternity, relationship, prenatal, animal, and many other options.