How do I return my DNA sample to you?

Some kits will include a prepaid postal returns bag, which is designed to be placed into a postbox and will then make its way safely back to us.

If you are located outside of the UK, the USA, or some EU regions, sadly we are not able to offer this service. Please return your sample to us via your preferred postal or courier service at the address below. Whilst we try to adhere to returns shipping procedures each country is so individual it is not always possible. Checking with your local shipping provider is important and there may be additional charges required to return your kit.

All prepaid return postage is via standard, untracked mail, so please see the table below for the return timeframes from your region. It's worth keeping in mind that during November and December, or at other busy times, additional delays may be incurred.

* UK samples are returned to our office in Frome, Somerset, and are then sent on to our lab and marked as received before testing begins.

* US samples are returned to our US fulfillment center and are then sent on to our lab. The time frame includes sample reception and plating before then being marked as returned. 

* EU samples are returned directly to our lab and marked as received before testing begins. 

All samples returned from the EU will have to pass through customs on leaving your country and on entering the UK, so it's possible for there to be delays which can add an additional 10 working days to the return time. We are sorry, but we're not able to influence this.

You may not have heard of the IBRS service but it is an initiative from the Universal Postal Union (UPU). All of its members have approved the use of IBRS. If your country is in the member list, your postal service should accept our return mailer without extra charge, as long the item still fits within the allowances of IBRS.

IBRS does not include tracking, so if you ask for your sample to be returned with tracking the postal service will ask you for payment to send the sample back or, alternatively, may reject the envelope since the pre-paid postage covers only regular postal fees. 

There are weight and size limits for the service, so please don't add any packing or extra material to the return mailer. If you do this then the IBRS label will not apply, and this could lead to delays in transit, or even the sample failing to arrive with us at all.

If the IBRS specifications are violated in terms of acceptable weight and package dimensions. Postal offices will reject it. IBRS is not intended for parcels.

Even if we have been able to provide a returns label, you might want to keep an eye on your sample as it makes it's way back to us or want to get the testing started as soon as possible so choose to send it with a tracked shipping or courier service at your cost. Please keep in mind that all parcels will have to pass through customs which, again, can affect the shipping times. 

The address on the EU IBRS label cannot be used if returning your sample with a courier or tracked postal service.

If you would like to send your samples back with a courier or tracked shipping service you will need to use one of the addresses below - sending to the address on your return mailer will mean your sample may get lost or returned to you. 

Please also keep in mind that while we can ship our DNA collection kit to nearly anywhere in the world, there may be customs restrictions in your country that will make it difficult to send your samples back to us. Please contact your local authority for more information on sending DNA cheek swab samples out of your country.

Please also check that it is lawful for you to take a DNA test in your country before purchasing.  For your legal safety, we advise that you do not place an order for our services, provide us with a sample, nor use any related services in any jurisdiction where it is illegal for you to do so.