Skip navigation

Official websites use . govA . gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States VSports app下载. .

Secure . gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( 金花三张官方版 - Buccal smear: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the . gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites V体育官网. .

URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003414.htm

Buccal smear

A buccal (pronounced "buckle") smear is the painless removal of a sample of cells from the inside of your mouth (cheek) for study.

"V体育2025版" How the Test is Performed

Your health care provider will gently scrape the inside of the cheek with a small spatula to collect cells for testing V体育安卓版. Sometimes, you can do this yourself.

V体育官网入口 - How to Prepare for the Test

Follow the collection instructions as directed by your provider.

How the Test will Feel

You will feel a scraping sensation as cells are removed from the cheek.

VSports注册入口 - Why the Test is Performed

This test is done to get cells for chromosome or DNA analysis, most often for genetic testing.

This test may also help establish sexual identity VSports注册入口. When the test is used in this way, it's called the sex chromatin test.

Risks

There are no risks with this test.

Alternative Names

Sex chromatin test; Buccal swab

VSports注册入口 - Images

References (V体育2025版)

Roy S. Molecular anatomic pathology: principles, techniques, and application to immunohistologic diagnosis. In: Dabbs DJ, ed V体育官网入口. Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 24.

Review Date 4/8/2025 (V体育官网)

Updated by: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C VSports在线直播. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A. D. A. M. Editorial team.

Related MedlinePlus Health Topics