FAQs

Animal Genetics > FAQs

For US customers:

  • We accept all money orders issued in US dollars. However, our bank is only able to process checks from a US bank and issued in US dollars.

For EU customers:

  • We accept all money orders issued in British Pounds. However, our bank is only able to process checks drawn on a UK bank and issued in British Pounds.
  • Yes, with the exception of DNA profiling and parentage testing, we automatically apply a 10% discount off the total when you submit an order of five or more canine samples. The 10% discount cannot be combined with other coupon pricing.
  • We are only able to process one method of payment per order. If you would like to use different methods of payment for different samples, you would need to place separate orders.
  • If you are having someone else pay for a sample you are sending there are several options. If paying with a check, their check can be sent along with your sample when it is submitted. If paying by credit card, you can have them place the order online, print out the submission form for you and then you can send the order form and sample to us. Alternatively, once we receive the sample, they can call us and pay with a card over the phone. If they would like to pay using paypal, you can.
  • We cannot process partial payments for an order. An order must be paid in full in order to release results. Due to the nature of our testing, every sample received begins the testing process on the same day it is received, meaning that no samples at our facility are untested. Please be sure you are ready to test every sample you send to us. All samples submitted need to have payment included or have the payment already processed online. While animals can be added to your account without selecting testing, our system disallows any samples received that are not marked for testing and paid for.
  • Orders can be refunded only if Animal Genetics has not yet received the sample for that order. Please contact us if you would like to request a refund for a sample that has not been received. After a sample is received, refunds will not be issued as samples are processed as soon as they arrive. Samples that do not contain sufficient DNA to obtain a result that are listed as “no result” can be resubmitted at no charge. If this is not possible, a credit can be applied to your account at the discretion of Animal Genetics. Please see our Terms of Use for more information about “no results.”
  • It’s not recommended to order kits on someone else’s behalf. If ordering kits for someone else or to go to a location different from your own, be sure to fill out the request ENTIRELY with their information. If your information is on the form, it may update your account with their information or send the kits to your location instead.

For US customers:

  • We accept all forms of USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL shipping including overnight. Due to the nature of the US Postal Service, we cannot guarantee when samples will arrive. We strongly recommend adding a tracking number to your samples if the testing is time sensitive. Note: overnighting a sample to arrive on a Saturday is not recommended, as we cannot guarantee that the office will have a representative present to accept any signed packages. Samples can be sent by standard USPS mail unless the sample is one that can degrade quickly (i.e. serum samples, samples for an RNA test like Avian Borna Virus, semen, etc.) in which case, these should be sent with priority or tracked shipping. See their section below for more details. Priority shipping with tracking is also recommended for international orders and for any orders that need their results as soon as possible.

For EU customers:

  • We accept all forms of Royal Mail, FedEx, and DHL shipping including overnight. Due to the nature of the Royal Mail, we cannot guarantee when samples will arrive. We strongly recommend adding a tracking number to your samples if the testing is time sensitive. Note: overnighting a sample to arrive on a Saturday is not recommended, as we cannot guarantee that the office will have a representative present to accept any signed packages. Samples can be sent by standard Royal Mail unless the sample is one that can degrade quickly (i.e. serum samples, samples for an RNA test like Avian Borna Virus, semen, etc.) in which case, these should be sent with priority or tracked shipping. See their section below for more details. Priority shipping with tracking is also recommended for international orders and for any orders that need their results as soon as possible.
  • As long as the samples are dry prior to placing in a bag or envelope, they can remain viable for years. Be sure that these samples are kept at a relatively stable temperature and are not left in direct sunlight or frozen. Note: Cheek swabs, dewclaws, and tails can ONLY be placed in a paper envelope as plastic does not allow for proper airflow, which aids in samples drying.

For US customers:

  • In order to maintain the 3-5 day turn around for the majority of our testing, we begin processing samples the day that they arrive at our facility. Because there is no waiting period between receiving samples and preparing them for testing, there is no way for us to rush a test once it arrives at our facility. However, the sooner a sample is received, the faster we can report the results. Any tests requesting a “rush order” are recommended to send samples to us using overnight or priority shipping. Additionally, the best way to get results quickly is to make sure the sample is of a high quality.

For EU customers:

  • In order to maintain the 7-10 day turn around for the majority of our testing, we begin processing samples the day that they arrive at our facility. Because there is no waiting period between receiving samples and preparing them for testing, there is no way for us to rush a test once it arrives at our facility. However, the sooner a sample is received, the faster we can report the results. Any tests requesting a “rush order” are recommended to send samples to us using overnight or priority shipping. Additionally, the best way to get results quickly is to make sure the sample is of a high quality.
  • Once an order is placed, you will be unable to edit the animal’s name. If a name change is necessary, please contact our office and one of our administrators will assist you.
  • Nope! No test kit from us is required for equine testing. All you need is 30-40 mane or tail hairs pulled from the horse (not cut or brushed out) placed in a plastic bag or envelope with the horse’s name clearly written on it. This should be sent in along with the printed order confirmation.
  • If you are unable to print your order confirmation, your submission MUST have the horse’s name clearly written on the plastic bag or envelope as well as a sheet of paper with your name, contact information, and the order number written on it. Without this information we will not be able to match up the sample received with your order in our system.
  • While we do accept blood samples for equine testing, we have found that it is typically harder to work with and does not yield as good a DNA sample as a hair specimen. If you’re sending in a blood vial, please ensure that it is in a lavender-topped EDTA tube and not a green-topped Heparin tube.
  • In order to do our testing, we need at least 30-40 mane or tail hairs with the roots attached. If the hair is short or fine, they should be tied or taped together with all of the roots facing the same direction.
  • Tail hair is typically recommended for younger foals whose hair is still short and weak. Both types of hair should yield a good result, but some horses are more sensitive to one area than another. Regardless of location, the number of hairs with roots attached is the most important factor.
  • Registration numbers are not required to submit your samples for testing. If the registration process is currently underway, the registration number can be added to the result report once the number is received.
  • While the results of a horse will not change throughout its lifetime, results are very dependent upon the quality of the sample. Horse hair can be quite weak when a foal is young, so we typically recommend a horse to be a few months old prior to pulling. However, if a sample is pulled before this, just ensure that the foal is cleaned of all amniotic fluids and that there are 30-40 hairs with roots attached. Note: Tail hair is typically stronger than mane hair on a young foal.
  • We do accept semen samples, although hair is still the preferred sample type for testing horses. All semen samples must be shipped frozen overnight on ice with “SEMEN SAMPLE” marked clearly on the packaging so we can store it as soon as we receive it. Due to the sensitive and often limited nature of semen samples, please call our office for guidance on amounts to send.
  • Dogs older than 6 weeks can be tested using either a blood sample or a cheek swab. Dogs 6 weeks and younger MUST be done with blood, dewclaws, or tails, no exceptions. Due to the potential for the dam’s DNA being present in the mouth of her pups, we cannot guarantee the results for cheek swabs done on pups 6 weeks and younger.
  • If you do not have our kits on hand and do not want to wait for us to mail you some, there are several ways you can collect samples from materials you may have at home or could purchase. If these are puppies under 6 weeks old we would require a blood sample. This can be collected by trimming the nail and hitting the quick or using a sterile lancet to prick the paw pad. The blood can be collected on filter paper, clean paper towel, or a clean cotton swab. If your pups are finished nursing a cheek swab sample will suffice. These can be collected using inter-dental brushes that can be purchased in the dental aisle of any store. They are typically made by the brand Dentek or Gum and are referred to as go-betweens or interdental brushes. The bigger and fluffier the brushes, the better! Size Wide or Extra Wide is preferable. It’s recommended to send 4 or 5 per dog with the clear caps left off and packaged in their own paper envelopes to keep from cross contaminating each other when being mailed in. Removed dewclaws can be submitted in a paper envelope (Please refer to the section below on dewclaw submission).
  • Due to the nature of genetic testing, dogs can be tested at any age and yield reliable results. This reliability, however, is contingent upon the sample type received. Dogs 6 weeks and younger MUST be done with blood, dewclaws, or tails, no exceptions. Due to the potential for the dam’s DNA being present in the mouth of her pups, we cannot guarantee the results for cheek swabs done on pups 6 weeks and younger. Dogs older than 6 weeks can be done with a cheek swab.
  • Nursing pups can be tested using the blood card, tail, or dewclaw methods mentioned above. These puppies cannot be tested using a cheek swab, as the sample will be contaminated with their dam’s DNA. A mother dog who is actively nursing puppies can be tested, but we also recommend a blood sample to avoid any potential contamination.
  • All samples can be collected from the comfort of your own home, so no vet is required. However, tails and dewclaws are typically done at a vet’s office and some vets will help with blood sampling on younger pups if needed.
  • While registration and microchip numbers are not required to submit your sample, we do recommend them if available. Any dog whose registry is still processing their request can update this information at a later time.
  • Our blood cards have markings and instructions on how much blood to include, but if you’re sending a blood sample on a coffee filter (the preferred alternative), you can collect enough blood to cover an area of about 2cm. If sending a lavender-topped EDTA blood tube, we need at least 20 microliters of blood.
  • We do accept semen samples for testing, although other sample types are preferred. All semen samples must be shipped frozen, overnight on ice with “SEMEN SAMPLE” marked clearly on the packaging so we can store it properly as soon as we receive it. Due to the sensitive, and often limited, nature of semen samples, please call our office for guidance on amounts to send.
  • If packaged correctly, dew claws and tails can be a fantastic source of DNA for testing pups as early as possible. Fresh dew claws and tails should be placed in a paper envelope and left to dry completely before sealing and sending along with your order confirmation. Please do not place dew claws or tails into a plastic bag to send. If your vet has placed the dew claws or tails in a glass or plastic tube, please remove them and place them into a paper envelope to dry.
  • A DNA Profile a collection of markers unique to your animal. This profile is a genetic fingerprint which can be used in direct parentage analysis or for some breed registries. ISAG (International Society for Animal Genetics) is an organization which has created a standard set of markers for DNA profiles. We use ISAG for both our equine and canine profiling.
  • While our testing is a specific DNA profile for your dog or horse, it CANNOT tell you the breed breakdown or pedigree lineage.
  • Yes, mom is absolutely an integral part of our parentage testing. Each puppy receives two copies of each marker: one from mom, and one from dad. Having mom on file ensures that we can account for 50% of the puppies’ markers that were received from mom and aids in coming up with a much clearer result. It is possible for a sire to match to an offspring without the dam’s profile present- but be excluded when the mother’s profile is included. Without a dam profile, not only do we have less data to perform our analysis with, but we cannot send out a confirmed parentage report.
  • We do not offer any kind of “Cleared by Parentage” paperwork at this time.

For US customers:

  • Yes, we can use profiles from any lab which also uses ISAG markers for their profiles. If you have a profile from a different lab that you would like compared to a sample profiled here, we can use it at a cost of $10.00 for entering and analysis. Please use the “Outside Lab Report” option when selecting tests and remember to send the document to us.

For EU customers:

  • Yes, we can use profiles from any lab which also uses ISAG markers for their profiles. If you have a profile from a different lab that you would like compared to a sample profiled here, we can use it at a cost of £10.00 for entering and analysis. Please use the “Outside Lab Report” option when selecting tests and remember to send the document to us.
  • Unfortunately, the AKC markers and our ISAG markers are not compatible, so all DNA profiles used for registering through the AKC must go through them directly.

For US customers:

  • Our parentage testing is priced at $35 per canine sample and $40 per equine sample. There are no discounts given for parentage testing.

For EU customers:

  • Our parentage testing is priced at £40 per canine sample and £30 per equine sample. There are no discounts given for parentage testing.

For US customers:

  • Results for canine and equine colors and genetic disorders are usually available online 3 to 5 business days from the day we receive the sample and results are typically mailed and emailed out in 3 to 5 business days. If a sample does not yield a result during its first testing cycle, we may need to retest the sample. If this is the case, you can expect to add 1 to 3 days to our typical turnaround. The turnaround time for parentage and ISAG profile testing for canine and equine samples is typically 5 to 7 business days. Please note that turnaround times are estimated from the date your sample arrives in the laboratory, NOT from the date you mail it to us.

For EU customers:

  • Results for canine and equine colors and genetic disorders are usually available online up to 10 business days from the day we receive the sample and results are typically mailed and emailed out in up to 10 business days. If a sample does not yield a result during its first testing cycle, we may need to retest the sample. If this is the case, you can expect to add 1 to 3 days to our typical turnaround. The turnaround time for parentage and ISAG profile testing for canine and equine samples is typically also about 10 business days. Please note that turnaround times are estimated from the date your sample arrives in the laboratory, NOT from the date you mail it to us.
  • Absolutely. Equine samples can typically be added to regardless of the year we received them. However, time can cause a sample to degrade, so there is a possibility of older samples not working. Testing can typically be added to canine samples within two (2) years of receiving them.
  • All of our testing is breed-specific! This means all of the testing options displayed are the available tests offered that can affect your breed. As more testing becomes available for the breed, it will be added as testing options.
  • If you cannot print your submission form, we recommend that you write the basic information needed on a piece of paper. This information would include your name, address, and contact information as well as the the order number, the animal’s name, and the testing ordered.
  • Occasionally we are unable to obtain a clear result from a sample due to sample quality. Problems obtaining results can be due to insufficient amounts of DNA, degraded samples, or contamination. If we are unable to obtain a clear result, then the sample is marked as a “No Result.” All samples given a “No Result” can be resubmitted at no additional charge. Please re-submit a new sample with a printed version of the original submission form submitted for the sample. Your original submission form can be downloaded from your online account or your confirmation email for the order.
  • Absolutely! You’ll receive an email notification letting you know your sample has arrived when the lab completes their daily intake. You can also see the status of your sample, including its arrival status, in the “My Orders and Results” section of your online account. If the sample has been received by the lab, the order status will read “Received.”
  • All results are emailed to you as soon as they are ready. PDF copies of Genetic Testing Reports are also available for download in your online account.
  • We absolutely can. We are happy to do so and there is no extra charge, just be sure to specify that you would like to receive your results via “Regular Mail” during the online checkout process.
  • All results belong solely to the account holder. Without your explicit permission, no one may access your account or information.

For US customers:

  • First, give our website a quick scan to see if your question can be readily answered here. We have a breadth of knowledge regarding testing and results published right here on our website. If you cannot find your answer or need more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email! 850-386-1145 or 1-800-514-9672 are the best lines to contact us on. Emails can be sent through the “Contact Us” button at the bottom of the page.

For EU customers:

  • First, give our website a quick scan to see if your question can be readily answered here. We have a breadth of knowledge regarding testing and results published right here on our website. If you cannot find your answer or need more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email! You may call us at +44 1726 247788. Emails can be sent through the “Contact Us” button at the bottom of the page.