Paternity Test
​
The Paternity DNA test is a genetic comparison between an alleged father and one or more children in order to determine a parentage link .
This comparison of the genetic profiles makes it possible to establish a percentage of relationship if a man is the biological father of a child or not .
The analysis can be done as soon as the child is born with buccal samples or discrete samples.
What is a Paternity Test?
Order your DNA test kit online
Receive your DNA kit at
home
Take samples
at home
Send
your
samples
Discover your results
by email
​
It is possible to do a Paternity test during a legal procedure . It is a request that can be implemented by the decision of a judge in the context of a case concerning family law.
You can also do a Paternity DNA test at home in a private setting. The order can be made directly on the internet from your home in order to receive the sampling equipment at home.
Unfortunately, it is still impossible to obtain a DNA test in pharmacies, as only a laboratory with genetic analysis equipment and accredited by international standards can provide the result for a Paternity test .
How to do a Paternity test?
​
The Paternity DNA test can be performed with:
​
- Salivary samples (Sterile buccal swabs)
- Non-standard samples: Like hair, nails, toothbrush...
Be careful, you must follow the instructions and respect the conditions so that the samples provide enough genetic information for your test.
What type of sample is used for the test?
Paternity Test Participants
Who can participate in a parentage test?
Each individual has a genetic heritage composed of 50% of that of his father and 50% of his mother. The paternity test determines if the child's genetic profile matches 50% with the genetic profile of an alleged father .
- One or more children or adults
- Girls or boys
- Sharing the same biological mother or not
- From birth, at any age
- For a test during pregnancy refer to: prenatal paternity test
- One or more presumed fathers
If the doubt of paternity concerns presumed fathers from the same family, the two fathers as well as the mother must take part in the test with the child. Otherwise, the results will lose precision.
​
- If the father is not available for the test, follow our guide: the search for paternity
- The biological mother of the child
The participation of the mother in a paternity test makes it possible to exclude half of the genetic profile of the child corresponding to that of his mother, in order to focus the comparison on the second part of the child's profile with that of a presumed father.
This improves the reliability and accuracy of the results.
​
- The biological mother is recommended, but not necessary to determine paternity
​
Consent is the agreement you give to the laboratory to use your DNA for the purpose of doing a genetic analysis . It is mandatory if you want to do a paternity test. Consent can only be given explicitly by an adult and fully lucid person.
This agreement must be drawn up after having received informed information about the outcomes of the test, by a contract or a consent form .
It is against the law to do a DNA test without the person's consent.
For minors, consent must be provided by one of the legal parents .
What is Consent?
The Results of a DNA Test
- 3-5 days using buccal swabs for all participants
- 10 days and more if a participant uses discrete samples
This time is calculated from the moment your samples arrive at the laboratory. Delivery time is not taken into account.
What are the analysis times for a Paternity test?
​
The reliability and authenticity of the Paternity test depends on several factors:
​
- The quality of the samples
- Laboratory accreditation
- The number of genes
- The choice of the test according to the family situation
How to be sure of the reliability of the test?
The quality of the DNA will depend on the samples taken and the storage of the samples. It is therefore important to follow the instructions of the laboratory in order to ensure that you receive results.
Accredited laboratories meet the requirements relating to the analysis process, management of resources and equipment, impartiality and confidentiality of information. For a paternity test, the laboratory must have ISO 17025 accreditation.
​
The reliability of the result depends on the number of genes compared. All the laboratories offer tests on an average of 15 to 22 genes (Loci STR) to carry out the comparison between the participants.
Depending on your situation, you have the possibility to ask laboratory for an extended comparison of the number of loci. The extended comparison improves the precision and therefore the reliability of the results.
​
The paternity test offers a 100% reliable negative result and a 99.9% reliable positive result.
​
The results are presented in the form of a table:
​
- Each column corresponding to a participant
- Each line has a gene to compare
- The composition of the gene is represented by one or two numbers (pair of chromosomes)
The child must have at least one number in common per line with the presumed father. If the match is perfect on all the lines, the relationship is concluded. Otherwise it is rejected.
How to read the results of a Paternity test?
Genetic Laboratory
​
The choice of laboratory is a very important step when you want to do a parentage test. You should know that each of the laboratories has specific services and depending on your situation it is advised to make the choice that corresponds best to you.
​
The choice of a laboratory can be made according to :
​
- Your family situation and available participants
- The confidence that the laboratory inspires through customer feedback
- The transparency of the company concerning its activity and your expectations
How to choose a reliable Laboratory?
​
The price of a paternity test may vary depending on the laboratories. Generally priced at around a hundred euros for the participation of an alleged father and a child.
​
The final price of the test may also depend on the options you have chosen, such as for for express results or the addition of a participant or a discreet sample.
How much does a Paternity test cost?
Depending on the laws of your country, you have the option of ordering a legally valid DNA test.
This legal test, accredited by the laboratory and accepted by the courts, can be used in any legal or administrative procedure.
Ordering a Legal DNA test online will allow you to anticipate the results obtained during legal proceedings. It is also possible to include it when preparing a file with your lawyer .
Why take a legal
paternity test ?
Can I protect
my personal data?
The answer is yes, you can protect your genetic data even if you do parentage DNA testing online.
With the European law on the protection of online data you have the possibility of keeping control over the use of your data and thus withdrawing your consent after testing.
Can a paternity test be done before birth?
​
Yes, modern techniques allow the laboratory to search for fetal DNA directly in the mother's blood. The comparison of fetal DNA with that of a presumed father defines a paternal filiation link as precise as a simple paternity test after the child's birth. The advantage of this test is that it is quick and non-invasive, therefore safe for the mother and the baby: Prenatal Paternity Test
​
Can a post-mortem paternity test be done?
​
Yes, it is possible thanks to the progress of science to be able to analyze the ashes, in the event of cremation, as well as other elements coming from the body or belonging to the person to verify a filiation link.
But different problems can arise during this process, such as:
​
- the conditions of the body after the exhumation,
- the consent of the deceased, which must be explicit before death in some countries,
- the quality of the samples which can be degraded, even unusable after a long time.
The chances of success are very slim and it is best to discuss this with the laboratory before making the decision to use this type of sample.
​
Can we do a paternity test without the father?
​
You have two options if you wish to do a paternity test without the DNA of the alleged father:
- Do a test with other family members in relation to the father.
- Order the paternity test using discrete samples belonging to the alleged father; such as hair, nails, razor, toothbrush...
​
Is it useful to do a paternity test with twins?
​
Twins can be monozygotic or dizygotic, depending on the fertilization of the egg during procreation. It is therefore genetically possible that twins are from different fathers.
In case of doubt on the filiation link because of a lack of resemblance, it is advisable to do a paternity test with the two twin children.
​
Can a paternity test be done without the mother's consent?
​
Neither the consent of the mother nor her participation is necessary during a paternity test for your peace of mind online. The laboratories accept that the father assumes full responsibility for the use of the child's genetic information.
​
Can a paternity test be done without the father's consent?
​
It is certainly not recommended to do a paternity test without the knowledge of the father. However, it is still possible to use discrete samples taken from the father during genetic analysis.
Care should be taken, as this method is considered illegal and your result will have no value in court. In this case, the laboratories request that the solicitor be held responsible for the use of non-consented samples.
​
How to do a paternity test in a pharmacy?
​
It is currently impossible to order a DNA test in pharmacies. Genetic analysis is offered by accredited laboratories that offer their services online or on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
DNA testing to find out parentage makes it possible to compare the genetic profiles of two or more people to determine a common biological heritage. In general, the test highlights the similarities and differences that make up your genetic fingerprint and evaluates your match rate in order to give you results for your relationship search.
​
Under no circumstances can this study be established without comparing different individuals , because your DNA is unique and does not contain the genetic profiles of your family, but only its heritage.
​
The paternity test is a filiation test, because the genetic heritage of an alleged father will be compared with that of a child.
​
Do you want to remove any doubt about your biological origin or that of a loved one? But you don't know which test is best suited to your situation? Follow our guide!
On infotestadn.com we offer you guidance on the tests currently available by putting you in the position of a paternity or maternity search. It's simple and free, and it will allow you to already have solid information before contacting the laboratory that suits you.