You have just ordered a DesigNA necklace, so what happens next? First, a sampling kit lands on your doorstep, and it is simpler than most people expect. There is no clinic visit, no blood draw, and no complicated form to fill in. Instead, the whole process happens at your kitchen table in under a minute, then travels to a UK laboratory to become the pattern in your necklace.
This guide walks through each stage of the sampling kit, so you know exactly what to expect before it arrives. For the full picture beyond sampling, see how your DNA becomes a necklace.
What Is Inside the Sampling Kit?
Your sampling kit contains three things: a cheek swab, plain step by step instructions, and a pre-addressed return envelope. You need nothing else, because DesigNA designed the kit to work without any prior experience or specialist equipment.
The packaging is discreet and arrives by regular post. As a result, there is nothing to book, nothing to schedule, and no appointment to wait for. You simply open the kit when it suits you.
How Do You Use the Sampling Kit at Home?
Using the kit takes about a minute from start to finish. First, open the swab packet and rub the swab gently against the inside of your cheek for around 60 seconds. Next, seal the swab back into its tube exactly as the instructions describe.
Because the process avoids blood samples and clinic visits, most customers complete it in one sitting without any difficulty. Finally, place the sealed tube into the pre-addressed envelope provided and pop it in the post. No printing, no queuing at a counter, and no extra postage to arrange.
What Happens After You Post the Sample Back?
Once your envelope reaches the laboratory, the sample begins its journey toward becoming your necklace pattern. A laboratory processes the swab under UK data protection standards, and uses the sample solely to generate the unique pattern that appears on your piece.
From there, a partner jeweller in Birmingham takes that pattern and renders it by hand into your chosen material. Therefore, the sampling kit stage is really the starting point of the whole craft process, not a separate step bolted onto it. DesigNA treats genetic information as sensitive data throughout, and the Information Commissioner’s Office explains why this category of data carries extra legal protection in the UK.
How Long Does the Sampling Kit Stage Take?
Most customers post their sample back within a few days of receiving the kit, since the swab itself only takes a minute. However, the exact timing is entirely up to you, because there is no deadline attached to the kit itself.
The sooner your sample reaches the laboratory, the sooner the jeweller can begin work on your piece. For that reason, posting your kit back promptly is the single most useful thing you can do to keep your order moving.
Which Material Will Your Pattern Be Set Into?
While your sample is on its way to the laboratory, it is worth deciding which material will carry your pattern. Silver necklaces use 925 sterling silver, gold necklaces use 9ct gold with gold filled spacers, and pearl necklaces string genuine freshwater pearls between your stone markers on sterling silver. All three are handmade to order in the UK, starting from £299. If you want the full comparison first, the DNA necklace materials FAQ covers each option in detail.
Browse the full range at DesigNA
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in the DesigNA sampling kit?
The sampling kit contains a cheek swab, plain instructions, and a pre-addressed return envelope. You need nothing else, and using it at home calls for no specialist equipment.
Does the sampling kit involve blood or a clinic visit?
No. The sampling kit only requires a simple cheek swab, taken at home in about 60 seconds. There is no blood sample and no clinic appointment involved at any stage.
How long does it take to use the sampling kit?
Using the sampling kit takes about a minute. You swab the inside of your cheek, seal it in the tube provided, and place it in the pre-addressed envelope ready to post.
What happens to my sample after I post it back?
Once the laboratory receives your sample, it processes the swab under UK data protection standards to generate the unique pattern that appears in your necklace. A partner jeweller in Birmingham then sets that pattern into your chosen material by hand.
Is there a deadline for returning the sampling kit?
No fixed deadline applies, but posting your sample back promptly helps keep your order moving, since the jeweller can only begin work once the laboratory has processed it.
Your genetic code, profiled from a simple cheek swab and handcrafted into the exact DesigNA necklace. No two are ever the same.
