Samples for a test requested by a private individual are taken by a licensed healthcare professional in a healthcare unit (usually in the laboratory of a private medical clinic). When you go to give the sample, take with you the sampling kit and the documents supplied by THL. The kit contains the sampling materials, instructions, and a return envelope. The kit may only be opened at the time of sampling.
The documents must be completed according to THL’s instructions before the sample is taken, except for the information that must be filled in on the sampling form during the sampling itself (method of verifying identity, sampling details, and signatures).
The sample for the examination is a swab taken from the inside of the cheek. Avoid eating, drinking, and smoking for at least half an hour before the sample is taken. However, you may drink water.
For the sampling, you will need:
- An identity document (driving licence, passport, identity card, alien's passport, refugee travel document)
- The request document, if you are the person requesting the test
- The sampling document, which is completed by a licensed healthcare professional for each person being tested, including sampling details and the method used to verify identity. Both the sampler and the sample provider sign the document.
- If the sample provider is a small child without their own identity document, the document is signed by the person who can verify the child’s identity.
- If the child has their own identity document but cannot sign the document themselves, it is signed by the person who accompanied the child to the sampling.
- Every person aged 15 or older must provide consent for the examination.
- If the person being tested is under 15 years old, consent is required from the child’s parents and guardians / other legal representative.
- Consent documents are usually sent to THL together with the samples. See also: Privacy notice for a DNA test requested by a private individual
Once the samples have been taken, the sampling place sends them to THL's forensic genetics team using the THL return envelope.
