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DNA Collection Instructions

How to Collect Your Pet's DNA Sample: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting a high-quality DNA sample is the most important step in the testing process. A good sample ensures fast, accurate results, while a poor sample can lead to "failed" tests and delays.

Follow this guide to ensure your pet’s sample is collected correctly the first time.

1. Prepare Your Kit

  • Don't throw anything away: You will need the original plastic wrapper (or the provided box) to stand the swabs up for drying later.

  • Locate the Barcodes: Inside your kit, you will find a sheet of barcode stickers.

    • One sticker must go on the sample tube/pouch.

    • One sticker should be kept for your own records.

2. The "No Food" Rule

  • Wait 15–30 Minutes: Ensure your pet has not eaten or drunk anything for at least 15–30 minutes before testing. Food particles are the #1 cause of failed tests because they can contaminate the DNA.

  • Isolate Your Pet: If you have multiple pets or nursing puppies, separate them for 10–20 minutes before swabbing. This prevents cross-contamination (e.g., milk or saliva from another dog transferring to the dog you are testing).

3. Collect the Sample (The Swab)

  • Open: Remove the sterile swab from the packet.

  • Technique: Place the bristle head inside your pet's cheek.

  • Action: Roll the swab firmly against the inside of the cheek. Think of it like applying mascara or brushing teeth—you need to rotate the swab to collect cheek cells, not just saliva.

  • Timing: Orivet's official lab recommendation is 20-30 seconds of firm rubbing to ensure enough DNA is captured. We suggest you you count aloud "1 cat & dog"..."2 cat & dog" etc; count to 20 and you should be ok.

4. The Drying Phase (Crucial)

  • Do Not Seal Immediately: Wet swabs can grow bacteria or mold, which destroys DNA during shipping.

  • Air Dry: Place the swabs (bristle side up) in a clean cup or use the holes in the provided cardboard box to let them air dry for at least 5–10 minutes.

5. Seal & Activate

  • Pack: Once dry, place the swabs back into the original plastic sleeve or pouch.

  • Seal: Seal the pouch using the barcode sticker from Step 1.

  • Activate Online: This is the step most often missed! You must log in to your Orivet account and enter the barcode number to link the physical swab to your pet's profile.

    • Look for codes starting with: OROZ, ORP or RP

    • ⚠️ Warning: Do not use the number on the outer "Tamper Evident" mailing bag (often labeled TB number) for activation. Only use the barcode on the swab/tube itself.

6. Mail It

  • Send: Place the sealed, barcoded swab pouch into the provided envelope or satchel and mail it back.

  • Track: You will receive email updates when the sample status changes from "In Transit" to "Received" at the lab.

 


Click here to view our detailed instructions.