Paternity tests may be performed by evaluating blood or saliva from the non-gestational parent and the child. The tests are nearly 100% accurate.
How Paternity Tests Are Used
There are a number of reasons a paternity test might be useful. In some instances, they may be ordered by a court to establish parentage in cases of custody and child support. They can also assist in obtaining proper documentation for a birth record. Other uses for paternity tests include:
Establishing Social Security, veteran, and inheritance benefitsProviding health information Strengthening the bond between a non-gestational parent and child
Types of Paternity DNA Testing
Paternity tests may be done prenatally (during pregnancy) or postnatally (after birth). If the test is done after the baby is born, blood samples or cheek swabs are taken from both the potential non-gestational parent and the infant and are then tested in a lab. During pregnancy, there are several different ways to collect DNA samples.
Noninvasive Prenatal Paternity Test (NIPP)
A blood sample is taken from the pregnant person to analyze fetal DNA. It is then compared to a saliva sample collected from the potential non-gestational parent. NIPP may be done as early as six weeks. It is nearly 100% accurate.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
Chorionic villus sampling is usually done to determine the health of the fetus but the sample can also be used to determine parentage. The test is performed between 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy and is done by taking a small sample of placental tissue through the pregnant person’s abdomen or cervix. That sample is then compared against a cell sample of the potential non-gestational parent. This test carries a small risk of miscarriage so this option may be reserved for those already planning to have the test for fetal health screenings.
Amniocentesis
Like CVS, amniocentesis is performed to evaluate the health of the fetus and, because it is invasive, might only be used to determine parentage if the test is already being performed for other reasons. Amniocentesis retrieves amniotic fluid by inserting a long needle into a pregnant person’s abdomen. This fluid is then compared to fluid samples from the gestational and potential non-gestational parent. It is typically performed between 15 and 20 weeks.
How to Choose a Testing Company
If you require a legal paternity test, you will need to obtain the test from a facility specified by the court. The legal test results can be used in court, such as for child support. If you don’t need to prove parentage for legal reasons, there are non-legal paternity tests available. You can buy these tests online or at a pharmacy. Over-the-counter tests allow you to collect samples in the privacy of your home. The retail purchase price does not include the lab fees, but they are one of the lowest cost DNA paternity tests available. At-home tests and those done in a private medical facility not approved by the court are not accepted by courts. Legal paternity tests must include specified documentation to support the collection.
Paternity Test Cost
The cost of a DNA paternity test can vary. A legal DNA paternity test typically costs between $300 to $500, which usually includes the collection costs associated with the test. Health insurance does not cover the cost of paternity tests. Non-legal paternity tests start at about $60 for the retail kit (not including the testing) up to around $200, depending on additional services such as expedited testing and shipping.
Paternity DNA Testing Results
Most laboratories can usually process results in two to five days from the time your samples are received. There are also expedited methods to ensure a fast turnaround time if results are needed more urgently, such as for adding a name to a birth certificate. Test results from amniocentesis or CVS may take longer, up to several weeks.
