| Q. Is the laboratory conducting the testing in the United States?
A. The laboratory conducting the testing is accredited by the AABB, is CAP certified, and is ISO 17025 certified. It is in a suburb of Cincinnati, OH. Many companies have a U.S. address but send your samples on to other countries, where there are few rules to govern companies who promise one thing and deliver another. Be safe—ask where your testing is being performed.
Q. Can the test be performed with only the Alleged Father and the child?
A. Yes. In many situations, the mother does not want to be tested. The test can be completed by testing only the child and the alleged father. There is no difference in the accuracy of the test if the mother is not tested, although the Combined Paternity Index will be higher if the mother is tested.
Q. How are samples collected?
A. We’ll send you an easy-to-follow sample collection kit. DNA is collected using special swabs called "buccal swabs." The buccal swabs are rubbed gently on the inner cheek inside the mouth to collect DNA. Buccal swabs are painless and can be used to collect samples from individuals at any age.
Q. Is the kit easy to use?
A. Yes. The collection kit comes complete with all of the necessary materials and instructions for safe and painless buccal cell collection. The collection should take less than 5 minutes per person and is completely safe and painless.
Q. The mother, child, and alleged father live in different cities. Can I order a DNA paternity test if the different parties to be tested are not together?
A. Yes, a DNA paternity test can be easily conducted even if the different parties to be tested are in different cities or even in different countries. Each DNA sample collection kit is assigned a unique identification number. If the different parties live in different cities or different countries, DNA sample collection kits with the unique case number will be sent directly to each party. After collection, each individual can separately send the specimens directly to the DNA laboratory.
Q. Can I order a DNA paternity test kit if I live outside of the U.S.?
A. Yes, our DNA sample collection kit can be sent to any country, worldwide.
Q. How old does the child have to be to be tested?
A. Our DNA sample collection kit can be used for patients at any age. Even newborns can be tested quickly and painlessly.
Q. How long does it take for results?
A. Our laboratory begins testing right away when we receive the samples. The test is completed in 3 working days, and results are available immediately. Motherless paternity tests may require more time (up to 5 working days) for testing.
Q. What is the difference between the legal and the private test?
A. There is no difference in the testing technique or the accuracy between the legal and private test. The only difference is that with the legal test, you will need to attend an appointment so that we can identify you and collect your fingerprints and photographs—completing the “Chain of Custody” of your DNA samples. With the discreet private test, you do not need to provide photographs and fingerprints.
Q. Can the results from the Home DNA Test be used in court?
A. If you will be using the results in court, you will have to be scheduled at one of our facilities for Chain-of-Custody specimen collection (for witnessing and proper identification procedures). The samples for the home test are collected discretely by the patients in the privacy of their own home. Because the collection is not witnessed in accordance with AABB Stantards and the patients are not properly identified, the results are for personal knowledge only.
Q. Is blood collection required?
A. No. Using the latest technology, a “buccal cell” sample taken from the mouth is now the newest and recommended method for sample collection. A buccal cell sample can be collected quickly, painlessly and discreetly using our sample collection kit. A person’s DNA is the same in every cell of the body, regardless of whether it is a blood cell or buccal cell. Buccal cell collection is the method of choice for both private and legal cases.
Q. Do you charge for telephone consultations?
A. No, there is no charge for telephone consultations. You are welcome to contact our laboratory at any time by phone at 1-800-281-2928 or e-mail for scientific or technical advice or to obtain test results.
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