Twins Test
Two person DNA test – to determine if twins are identical or non-identical
In the kit
The DNA testing kit contains everything you need to take your DNA samples and return them to us for testing.
- A folder with information about Cellmark and the DNA testing kit
- Clear instructions about how to take the DNA samples
- A mouth swab for each person to be tested
- A sample collection card for each person to be tested
- A sample declaration form for each person, requiring a signature to provide consent
- A tamperproof, prepaid return envelope
All our Home DNA kits are mailed out inside a non-branded envelope, there is no mention of Cellmark or DNA at Home on the envelope and it will be labelled ‘Private and Confidential’.
Next Day results
If all of your DNA samples arrive at our UK laboratory before 10am we aim to send the test result to you by the end of the next working day by email.
Important Information
The definitive way to determine if twins are identical or non-identical (also known as ‘fraternal’ twins) is to carry out DNA testing. This is a simple, painless test which will conclusively prove if twins are identical or not.
Twins are identical, or monozygotic if they are from a single fertilised egg which split in the womb to form two genetically identical embryos. Twins are non-identical, dizygotic or fraternal, if they came from two separate fertilised eggs which implanted in the womb at the same time; non-identical twins share the same level of DNA as other full siblings.
A simple mouth swab is used to collect a small DNA sample from each twin and the samples are then sent to Cellmark’s specialist DNA laboratory for testing and analysis.
In the laboratory our scientists will test the DNA samples with 24 ‘markers’ (for more information see our FAQs) to determine if they are genetically identical for all of the DNA markers, or if they have similar but different DNA profiles as is expected with full siblings (ie non-identical twins). This produces extremely accurate results which will conclusively determine if the twins are identical or not.
Please note that DNA at Home's twins test is for ‘curiosity’ purposes only; if the results are going to be used in a legal or medical matter we would encourage you to visit our legal DNA testing site to order a test - www.cellmark.co.uk. As with all our DNA relationship testing services we offer a Next Day DNA service at no extra cost. This means that if all the DNA samples for your test arrive at our UK laboratory before 10am, we aim to send the test result to you by the end of the next working day by email.
If you have any questions please call our customer services team free on 0800 043 1987.