Frequently Asked Questions

A legal paternity test is generally required when there is a need to prove paternity in a court of law, amending a birth certificate, child support, and custody cases.

DNA paternity testing is 100% accurate when done properly.  We are in partnership with laboratories that use a Dual Process trademark which helps ensure a strict chain of custody and error-free results by proper handling, testing, and analysis of samples.

The most common sample type is a buccal swab.  This sample is collected using a cotton swab that is gently rubbed on the inside of your cheek.  Blood samples are also acceptable.

A DNA test can be requested by anyone. When there is a child support or custody case, a Judge may order a test.

There is no difference. Both require identification and chain of custody documents.

Our labs follows a strict chain of custody, which makes our results defensible in courts and other government agencies. Many of our patients use their test results to obtain child support and for other important legal purposes, such as validating claims for Social Security benefits or inheritances.

You can DNA test a baby after birth as soon as the baby has been cleaned up by hospital staff. Because a cheek swab is used, it’s important that the baby’s mouth be free from meconium, amniotic fluid, breast milk, or formula when doing the DNA collection.

There are no age restrictions with DNA testing. A baby can be tested right after birth.

You want to determine the paternity or maternity of a child but you are not involved in a court matter, you should purchase a non-legal at-home test. If there is any chance the results might be needed for legal purposes, a legal test should be performed. Our labs uses the same testing technology for both legal and non-legal testing. Non-legal or at-home tests allow for sample collection at your home and do not follow the legal chain-of-custody protocols needed for a legal test. Our highly accurate tests exclude, on average, 99.99% of non-fathers.

You certainly can take a paternity test without the mother’s DNA. Even though the standard paternity test kit includes DNA swabs for the mother, father, and child, it is not required to have the mother’s DNA. A child inherits their DNA from their mother and their father equally.

No, health insurance will not cover the cost of a DNA test unless it is health-related.

For a legal / court admissible test all participants must bring a valid government-issued ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. For minors a birth certificate or social security card is sufficient, but NOT REQUIRED since the child’s legal guardian or alleged father must sign the consent form allowing the minor or newborn baby to be tested.

When you arrive at your appointment, you will need to present proper identification, which the sample collector will verify and photocopy.

After you are properly identified, you will need to sign a form giving your consent for the test. If you are the legal custodian of a tested minor, you will have to sign the form on behalf of the child.

The collector will collect your DNA samples using simple buccal swabs—cotton-like swabs that he or she will rub against the inside of your cheek to gather loose cheek cells. The collector will then send all the samples to our laboratory.

Our collection process is designed to be convenient, simple, and painless!

Results are posted 2 business days after samples are received at the lab. 1-day or same-day results once samples arrive at the lab are available for an additional fee.

Our labs follow all paternity-test guidelines for the language used in the report. For this reason, your paternity test results will say whether the possible father IS EXCLUDED or IS NOT EXCLUDED as the biological father of the child tested.

• IS EXCLUDED: Means that he cannot be the father because testing determined that he and the child do not share a biological parent/child relationship.
• IS NOT EXCLUDED: Means that he is likely to be the biological father because testing determined that he and the child do share a biological parent/child relationship with a high degree of probability.

A paternity test result includes a table that lists:

• The allele sizes of the different DNA markers examined and used in the statistical analysis portion of the test (i.e., the DNA profile)
• A Probability of Paternity value
• A Combined Paternity Index (CPI) value

You will want to focus on the probability of paternity percentage. A result of 0% means the alleged father is not the biological father; a result of 99.99% or higher means the alleged father is likely to be the biological father. The CPI value represents the odds against another random, unrelated, untested male in the population having the same results as the tested man. IMPORTANT: Paternity testing is calculated using statistics. Therefore, a probability of paternity can never be 100%, because that perfect score would require testing every man on earth with the same racial background of the man tested—which isn’t possible. A probability of 99%+ is considered conclusive for paternity.

A paternity test cannot be processed if the alleged father is unavailable, missing, or deceased with no blood card available from the medical examiners’ office. We have other testing options that are available in these types of circumstances. We can use DNA samples of family members to determine the biological relationship.

Types of tests recommended: Grandparent test

Sibling test, Aunt & Uncle test