Exact Answer: 5-8 weeks
Deoxyribonucleic acid is known as DNA. It is a double helix structure of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other in a criss-cross manner. It contains the details regarding the growth, functioning, traits, behavior, etc of the living organism. In short, it has all the information to build a living organism and to make it function properly.
DNA is the smallest unit require to begin the process of belonging to a certain class or species. An organism passes some portion or a very small proportion of its DNA to its offspring. The process of passing the DNA leads to maintaining older traits along with providing some frequent ability to bring changes. The traits pass from generation to generation with changes known as diversity of life.
How Long After The DNA Analyzed Are Results Ready?
| Process | Time Taken |
| Order | 3-9 days |
| Collection of sample | 2-3 minutes |
| Sending the sample | 1-2 days |
| Analysis of DNA | 5-8 weeks approximately |
Before the analysis of DNA, there are some more steps as following. A person can have a DNA test by either ordering the test kit online or from the lab. The order of the test kit might take 3-9 days from the date of the order to get delivered to your doorstep.
The next procedure includes collecting the DNA sample. It takes from 2 to 3 minutes to collect the DNA sample. It is always advisory to first read the instructions given on the kit before collecting the sample. The sample could be mainly of a buccal swab or saliva. Collect the sample in the given apparatus or tool provided with the kit. Pack it carefully and send it to the concerned lab or the site from where it is ordered.
The delivery of the sample to the lab could take 2-3 days. Once the sample reaches the laboratory, testing begins. The total time to get the DNA tested varies from labs to labs.
Why Do The Results Of DNA Analysis Take This Much Time?
DNA analysis refers to the process of comparing the DNA found or taken with the suspected or known DNA profiles. First of all, DNA comprises four steps namely extraction, quantitation, amplification, and capillary electrophoresis.
- Extraction: It is the process that involves extracting the DNA molecule from the cell. DNA is located inside the nucleus of the cell. Therefore, while taking out DNA from the nucleus it is necessary to be attentive. The process needs breaking of the nucleus which ultimately brings the DNA molecule in the solution with other debris known as an inhibitor. The most common types of inhibitor found with it are hemoglobin and indigo dyes. The time involvement required for extraction is 2 to 3 hours.
- Quantitation: All the extraction done needs to be tested to ensure whether the extracted molecule is from a human or any other source. Regardless of quality, examining the quantity is much important for the next procedure of amplification. Thus, this step takes about an hour for the settlement of the apparatus and two to three hours for determining the quantity.
- Amplification: In this process, multiple copies of some sequences of DNA are made. It is more helpful in the field of forensic as the DNA found at crime scenes is always less in numbers and quality.
- Capillary Electrophoresis: DNA molecules are negatively charged. They are passed through an electric current which makes them enter a capillary from the negative end to the positive end which is the anode. In this process, DNA molecules are separated from other molecules after the completion of PCR.
Conclusion
The analysis of DNA tells more about a species. It is done to get information to identify the parental relationship between a child and parent. More it is used in criminal cases to match the DNA found at the crime site with the DNAs of the victim and suspects.
Different companies take different times to process. The process depends on the number of tests to be performed in a single day at the lab. Still, most of the companies get the result ready in 5-8 weeks.
Reference
- https://www.nature.com/articles/ng0294-130
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=prEWEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=What+is+DNA+analysis&ots=eHrq0cIVyh&sig=-JNsya4UCRCLetZLyuZo5s7s5IM
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=QQm_TopWgUoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=What+is+DNA+analysis&ots=JpLJFXbNdj&sig=pxdZQDW3iCuRi7WZBiw6a8r8le0