Order your test
Get instructions
Collect samples
Send to the lab
Discover your results
Your samples are analyzed by our partner laboratory:
Endeavor DNA Laboratories
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The Avuncular DNA test can be performed with:
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Saliva samples (Sterile buccal swabs)
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Non-standard samples : Like hair, nails, toothbrush...
Be careful, you must follow the instructions and respect the conditions so that the samples provide enough genetic information for your test.
What type of sample is used for the test?
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The uncle and aunt parentage DNA test, also called the avuncular test, determines the probability of kinship between a child (nephew or niece) with an aunt or uncle .
The test is a genetic comparison in order to establish a biological parentage link on the side of a presumed father or mother.
Avuncular testing can be done with buccal samples and discrete samples. Those tested include a child and an aunt or uncle.
What is an Avuncular test?
You can do an avuncular DNA test at home in a private setting . The order can be made directly on the internet from your home in order to receive the sampling equipment at home.
In addition, it is still impossible to obtain a DNA test in a pharmacy, moreover only a laboratory with genetic analysis equipment and accredited by international standards can provide the result for an avuncular DNA test.
How to do a DNA test between Nephew/Niece and Aunt or Uncle?
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The aunt must be a full sister of the parent sought
If the aunt participates in the test, the uncle will not participate, it's one or the other
For a maternity search between the aunt and her nephews, it is advisable to use:
the mitochondrial DNA test which in this case is much more reliable
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One or more children can participate in the test (boy - girl)
The children can be full sisters and brothers, or half-brothers and half-sisters.
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The uncle must be the full brother of the parent sought
If the uncle participates in the test, the aunt will not participate, it's one or the other
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For a paternity search between the uncle and a boy, it is advisable to use:
Avuncular Test Participants
A child inherits exactly half of their genes from their biological parent (father or mother), and a biological parent shares about half of their genes with their sibling (uncle or aunt).
Thus, the child (boy or girl) shares approximately a quarter of their genes with their uncle or aunt.
Based on the number of genetic matches, the laboratory calculates the statistical probability that the presumed uncle or aunt is biologically related to the child. To perform this test, the uncle and aunt must share the same biological parents as the presumed father or mother.
Even though they share the same biological parents, the uncle or aunt is not genetically identical to their sibling. On average, the avuncular test allows the laboratory to determine only half of the genes of the presumed parent.
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The answer is no ! Genetic analysis to determine parentage becomes too complex when participants are considered cousins .
With your DNA being too far removed from your cousin, the relationship by genetic analysis will hardly give you an accurate result.
The vast majority of laboratories do not offer this service and refuse to do the parentage analysis if the participant declares this situation.
Can I do a test with cousins?
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Consent is the agreement you give to the laboratory to use your DNA for the purpose of carrying out a genetic analysis. It is mandatory if you want to do an avuncular test.
Consent can only be given explicitly by an adult and fully lucid person. This agreement must be drafted after having received information about the outcomes of the test, through a contract or a consent form.
It is against the law to do a DNA test without the person's consent.
For minors, consent must be provided by one of the legal parents.
What is consent for a DNA test?
Parent Involvement
It is always recommended to test one or both known parents to obtain the most accurate results possible, as a child’s genetic makeup is only half derived from their parents.
The participation of the parents (the biological mother or father of the child, depending on the situation) in the avuncular relationship test allows the exclusion of half of the child’s DNA, leaving the other half for comparison with the DNA of the person being tested. This significantly improves the reliability of the results.
For this reason, it is very important to conduct this test with a full sibling of the presumed parent.
Otherwise, the test results will not be conclusive.
If, in your search for parentage, the doubt involves presumed relatives from the same family, all known relatives must participate in the test with the children. Otherwise, the results may lose accuracy. In general, the more genetic information available, the more conclusive the test results will be.
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5-7 days using buccal swabs for all participants
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10+ days if a participant uses discrete samples
This delay is calculated from the moment your samples arrive at the laboratory. Delivery time is not taken into account.
What are the analysis times for an Uncle and Aunt test?
The reliability and authenticity of the test between a nephew/niece and their uncle or aunt depend on several factors:
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The quality of the samples
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The accreditation of the laboratory
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The choice of test based on the family situation
DNA analysis relies on the quality of the collected and preserved samples. Reliable results can only be obtained when the laboratory’s instructions are followed rigorously. For this reason, it is important to choose an accredited laboratory that meets ISO 17025 standards for analysis processes, resource and equipment management, impartiality, and information confidentiality.
Generally, laboratories offer tests comparing an average of 15 to 22 genes, known as STR loci, to establish a comparison between participants.
However, if you want a more detailed comparison for greater result accuracy, you can request an extended comparison of the number of loci from the laboratory.
It is important to understand that the number of genes compared can affect the reliability of the results. The higher the number of genes compared, the more reliable the results will be.
This is why it is recommended to request an extended comparison of the number of loci for an avuncular test or other tests where result reliability is crucial.
In summary, to achieve reliable results in a DNA test, it is essential to follow the instructions of an accredited laboratory, opt for an extended comparison of the number of loci, and ensure the quality of the collected and preserved samples.
How reliable are the results?
The results are presented in the form of a table:
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Each column corresponds to a participant
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Each row represents a gene
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The gene composition is shown as one or two numbers for each participant
The avuncular DNA test measures the indirect relationship between individuals by comparing the genetic profiles of a sibling to that of a presumed father or mother.
The results are based on probabilities and statistics, but it is important to understand that hereditary transmission can be random, and similar alleles are not always an indication of a common parent.
Additionally, the results may be inconclusive, which should be considered when interpreting them.
Verification of participants’ relationship:
The DNA test to establish kinship involves using a relationship index. This baseline number of 1 reflects the likelihood of shared genes between participants.
The relationship index is then converted into a percentage of relatedness.
Kinship test results with an uncle or aunt should be interpreted in terms of probability, with the relationship index translated into a percentage ranging from 0% to 99.99%.
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If the index is greater than 1 and the percentage exceeds 90%, the test is considered positive.
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If the index is less than 1 and the percentage is below 10%, the test is considered negative.
How to read the results of an Avuncular test?
Which parents should participate in an avuncular DNA test?
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In general, participants in an avuncular DNA test are the children (nephew and/or niece) and either a sibling of the alleged parent (uncle or aunt). If possible, the mother or father of the child depending on the situation should also bring their DNA to the tests according to the search for paternity or maternity, because their participation can certainly help to reinforce the results.
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Can the test be done with a half-brother and half-sister of the alleged parent?
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No, the lab cannot test the half-siblings of a possible wanted father or mother. It must be a full sibling relationship in order to obtain the most conclusive results possible. In other words, the uncle and the aunt must be full brothers and sisters (same biological parents) of the father or the mother sought.
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Can first cousins be tested instead of an aunt or uncle?
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No, no relationship DNA testing can be done with cousin involvement, as the percentage of DNA they might share with the person in question is too low to establish a biological relationship. Whether for the avuncular test or any other type of test.
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Can we test from different addresses?
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Yes, laboratories always offer an option to send you several kits if the participants do not have the possibility of taking the test together. This can also be done even if the participants are in different countries.
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Can we come to the lab for a test?
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Generally no, the companies that offer you online tests are merchant companies that work in partnership with the laboratories to relocate all the logistics of the procedures and the customer service. This allows the laboratory to concentrate solely on the work of analysis and thus it is very rare that they provide a place open to the public. In addition, the sample collection that is requested does not require the intervention of a professional.
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Can taking medication or drugs affect a DNA test?
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No, no substance can alter a person's DNA. But the samples you send to the lab can be contaminated or degraded by many environmental factors. Take care to keep them in paper envelopes, avoid handling them with your fingers, and above all do not use a plastic bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
The mitochondrial DNA test compares your DNA with that of your aunt to determine if you share the maternal line.
Maternal line research
Paternal line research
The analysis of the Y chromosome makes it possible to define whether the uncle and the nephew come from the same paternal line. By deduction to define the paternity of the child.
We don't send DNA kits!
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It's up to you to make your DNA kit with saliva samples.
You can place the order from any country.
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Place your order to receive by email:
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your customer code;
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sample collection instructions;
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the online consent form;
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the shipping form to print, fill out and send;
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the laboratory's address.
Product details
The DNA test and instructions include the use of saliva samples for both participants.
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Addition of an extra participant: 99.00€
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Addition of a non-standard sample: 69.00€
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Organization of the sample shipping by the laboratory: 50.00€ (FEDEX)
All options must be requested by email: contact@infotestadn.com
Options
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Results within 3 to 5 working days after receipt of saliva samples.
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Results within 10 working days for other types of samples
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The results are sent by email and then automatically destroyed within 60 days.