# How fast for a DNA test? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-for-a-dna-test/551996 "2010-08-30T13:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-for-a-dna-test/551996/1 "2010-08-30T13:23:32Z")
In am emergency, like the Saddam Hussain case, a lab can do a DNA test really quickly, but consider this. I must be misunderstanding something. According to the New York Times the other day (no link), the transit police arrested a guy for slipping under a turnstile. They took him to 45th Precinct and booked him. I presume they took a DNA sample. There was an arrest record, ten arrests in ten years. Some for weapons, but I got the impression that the guy was not going to be held. I see this whole story happening in the station house. Then they got a call from some lab. They had a DNA match for this guy and that case where someone raped and beat up an elderly lady a few months ago. Book 'em Danno! Could this have happened so fast? Could this have happened in less than 24 hours? ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-for-a-dna-test/551996/2 "2010-08-30T13:34:03Z")
I assume that [this](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/nyregion/29rape.html) is the story you are referring to. In that case it appears that the DNA had been taken during a previous run-in with the law and that the “hit” was discovered coincidentally with the time that he was in custody for his most current offenses. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-for-a-dna-test/551996/3 "2010-08-30T13:44:21Z")
aha! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-for-a-dna-test/551996/4 "2010-08-31T00:59:24Z")
A DNA test can be run in just a few hours. Most police labs are underfunded and backed up so much that the wait for your sample to have the DNA test run is typically weeks to months.