An at-home paternity test offers a convenient, non-invasive method for determining a biological relationship between a potential father and a child. This process uses a mail-in kit to collect genetic samples, most commonly from the inside of the cheek. The collected DNA is analyzed by a laboratory, providing information about the likelihood of a biological connection for personal knowledge. This straightforward method allows individuals to seek answers about their genetic heritage outside of a formal clinical setting.
Selecting a Home Paternity Test Kit
Choosing a testing company requires looking beyond the initial purchase price. While the kit itself may cost $20 to $60, a separate laboratory fee is required for analysis, often bringing the total cost between $100 and $300. Confirm that the advertised price includes all lab fees or budget for this additional charge.
A significant consideration is the laboratory’s accreditation, which speaks to the quality and reliability of the analytical process. Laboratories accredited by organizations like the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) adhere to rigorous standards. Choosing a lab with this certification offers assurance of scientific integrity, even though AABB accreditation is only required for court-admissible testing. All participants must provide consent before purchasing.
Step-by-Step Sample Collection and Submission
The standard method for collecting DNA is the buccal swab, a soft swab rubbed against the inner cheek to collect cheek cells. Preparation is necessary to ensure the sample is not contaminated by foreign DNA or substances that could interfere with analysis. Participants should wait at least 30 minutes after eating, drinking, smoking, or brushing their teeth before swabbing.
After washing hands thoroughly, remove the swab from its packaging, handling only the stick. Place the swab tip inside the mouth and firmly rub it against the inside of the cheek for 30 to 60 seconds to collect buccal cells. Target the cheek, not the gums or tongue, and use firm pressure for each participant to gather sufficient cellular material.
Once collected, the swab must air-dry completely to prevent degradation from mold or bacteria during transit. This usually involves waving the swab in the air for about one minute or placing it upright in a clean cup, ensuring the tips do not touch any surface. The dry swab is then placed into the designated paper envelope, as plastic can negatively impact sample integrity. Finally, the sealed and labeled envelopes are placed into the return mailer and sent to the laboratory.
Why Home Test Results Are Not Court Admissible
Home paternity tests are intended solely for personal knowledge and are not accepted as legal evidence in court proceedings. The fundamental difference between an informational at-home test and a court-admissible legal test lies in the “chain of custody.” This chain is a rigorous, documented process that tracks the DNA sample from collection until the final result, ensuring its integrity and verifying the source identity.
For a result to be legally admissible, an impartial third-party collector must oversee the sample collection. This collector, such as a medical professional, verifies the identity of all participants using photo identification and documents the date, time, and location of the collection. The samples are then sealed with tamper-proof tape and the collector’s signature before being sent to the AABB-accredited laboratory.
Since at-home collection is performed privately without third-party verification, there is no way to prove the samples came from the correct individuals or that they were not tampered with. The absence of this strict chain of custody means the court cannot rely on the results for matters like child support, custody, or inheritance. Legal testing requires this level of procedural security to eliminate doubt about the sample source.
Understanding the Test Results
The laboratory report presents scientific findings focusing on two primary outcomes: the alleged father is either “not excluded” or “excluded” as the biological father. Both results are based on comparing the child’s genetic markers, or alleles, with those of the alleged father.
If the tested man is not excluded, the report includes a “Probability of Paternity,” a statistical calculation of the likelihood of the relationship. For a positive inclusion, this percentage is almost always 99.9% or higher, meaning the tested man is statistically certain to be the biological father compared to a random man. The report may also list a Combined Paternity Index (CPI), a ratio showing how many times more likely the tested man is to be the father than an untested man.
Conversely, if the genetic profiles do not align at a sufficient number of markers, the conclusion will be “excluded.” This outcome means the tested man is not the biological father, and the Probability of Paternity will be 0%. Modern paternity tests analyze multiple genetic markers, and a mismatch at two or three different markers is enough to definitively exclude the alleged father.