How do I return my DNA sample to you?

What do I need?

Where ever you are in the world your kit will include a prepaid postage return mailer which is designed to be deposited in a public mail/postbox.

• If you are located outside of the UK/USA/EU, please do not forget to sign and date the customs label, in order for your samples to make it back to us. If this is not done, additional delays will be incurred at customs points.

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/December, and other busy times additional delays may be incurred.

All samples returned outside the USA will have to pass through customs on leaving your country and on entering the UK country so, it's possible for there to be delays which can add an additional 10 working days to the return time. We are 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 track & trace.

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 DO NOT add any packing or extra material to the return mailer. If you do this then the IBRS label will not apply and could lead to delays in transit or the sample failing to arrive with us at all. If the return mailer, the IBRS specifications are violated in terms of acceptable weight and package dimensions. Postal offices will reject it. IBRS is not intended for parcels.

Can I speed up the return? 

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 can affect the shipping times. 

The IBRS address 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 the applicable return address and MUST NOT use the return mailer. 

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.

Additionally, please ensure that is lawful in the country in which you reside, or if different,  in the country in which you are located when you take your sample or access your results, for you to take and submit the sample to us for testing, and to enter into this Contract and to provide the promises and undertakings which it contains, and for us to provide test results and any Related Services to you. For your legal safety, we advise that you do not place an order for Services, provide a sample, nor use Related Services in any jurisdiction where it is not lawful for you to do so.