Buccal smear
Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources
A buccal smear (pronounced "buckle") is the painless removal of a sample of cells from the lining of the mouth (inside of the cheek) for study.
The health care provider will gently scrape the inside of the cheek with a small spatula to collect cells for testing.
Rinse, wash and swab the mouth as instructed for the particular test ordered.
This procedure is used to obtain cells for DNA and chromosome testing for several genetic disorders. It can be used for rapid analysis in the newborn to determine gender or chromosomal abnormalities.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. � 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
