What is NepenthesTesting.com?
NepenthesTesting.com is a genetic testing service for Nepenthes growers. We help you get clear answers sooner, so you can plan your collection and breeding with more confidence.
What is DNA?
DNA is like a plant’s instruction book. It tells the plant how to grow and what it is.
What is a DNA marker?
A DNA marker is a small clue inside DNA. We look for that clue to answer a specific question, like whether a plant is male or female.
What is a qPCR test?
A qPCR test is a lab test that looks for a specific piece of DNA in a sample.
How does the test work?
• We take a tiny bit of plant tissue from your sample.
• We look for a DNA marker (like a fingerprint).
• The test copies that DNA many times so it is easier to find.
• A machine measures it as it copies to confirm the result.
What is the process from ordering a kit to receiving results?
How long does it take to get results?
Once your sample is marked “Received” in our lab, our goal is to send results in about 1 week. Shipping time is separate. The 1 week starts after your sample is logged as “Received.”
Does this hurt my plant?
You only take a tiny piece of tissue. Most healthy plants handle it just fine.
What kind of plant tissue should I send?
Send a small, fresh piece of leaf tissue, just like the kit instructions show. Fresh and clean is best.
Please do not send tendrils, pitcher material, seeds, infected tissue, or dead tissue. For best accuracy, your sample must come from a healthy leaf on a living plant.
How much tissue do you need?
Only a small piece. More is not better. Too much can cause problems in the tube.
Can I send an old or damaged sample?
Fresh is best. Old or dried samples can have weak DNA and may lead to an “inconclusive” result.
Reminder: Please do not send tendrils, pitcher material, seeds, infected tissue, or dead tissue. Use a healthy leaf from a living plant.
How do I avoid contamination?
• Use clean tools (gloves and shears).
• Do not touch the sample too much.
• Keep samples separate from other plants.
• Use only one tube per plant.
Can I send multiple plants in one tube?
No. One tube should be one plant only. Mixing samples can cause confusing results, or no result at all.
What happens when my sample arrives at the lab?
We check it in, give it an ID, and prepare it for testing.
What does “DNA extraction” mean?
It means we pull the DNA out of the plant tissue so it can be tested.
What does “Detected / Not Detected / Inconclusive” mean?
Detected: We found the DNA marker we were looking for.
Not Detected: We did not find the marker in your sample.
Inconclusive: We could not get a strong enough signal to be sure. This can happen with low DNA, old or damaged tissue, or contamination.
Can results ever be wrong?
All lab tests have limits, but with a clean sample, results are usually very reliable.
Are my results private?
Yes. Your results are private and shared only with you.
Do you test human DNA?
No.
Who owns the sample once it is received?
Once the lab receives and accepts your sample, your submitted sample and all derived genetic material and data become the property and intellectual property of Innovative Technical Holdings, LLC and Exotic Plant Food, LLC, (as stated in our Terms and Privacy Policy).
What if I think I messed up the sample?
Contact us. We will help you figure out the next step. Sometimes the best fix is simply sending a new sample.
Copyright © 2026 Nepenthes Testing - All Rights Reserved. In association with Innovative Technical Holdings, LLC,
Exotic Plant Food, LLC & Exotic Plant Labs.
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