DNA differs from standard biometrics in several ways:

• DNA requires a tangible physical sample as opposed to an impression, image, or recording.
• DNA matching is not done in real-time, and currently not all stages of comparison are automated.
• DNA matching does not employ templates or feature extraction, but rather represents the comparison of actual samples

Regardless of these basic differences, DNA is a type of biometric inasmuch as it is the use of a physiological characteristic to verify or determine identity.