5 best paternity tests

Paternity tests are genetic tests that determine the biological relationship between a father and a child.These tests are often used to establish paternity in legal cases, such as child custody disputes or child support matters, as well as for personal reasons when there is uncertainty about a child's biological father.

Here are some key points about paternity tests:

Types of Paternity Tests: There are several methods for paternity testing, including:
- DNA Testing: This is the most common and accurate method. It compares the DNA of the alleged father and child to see if they share genetic markers. The most common DNA tests for paternity include PCR-based DNA tests, STR (short tandem repeat) analysis, and SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) testing.
- Blood Typing: This method is less precise than DNA testing and is rarely used today. It examines the blood types of the child and alleged father.
- HLA Typing: This involves analyzing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers, which are part of the immune system. It is less commonly used compared to DNA testing.
Accuracy: DNA-based paternity tests are highly accurate, typically providing results with a 99.9% or higher probability of paternity if the alleged father is indeed the biological father.
Sample Collection: Samples for paternity testing are usually collected through a buccal swab (cheek swab) from both the child and the alleged father. This is a non-invasive and painless process that can be done at home using a paternity test kit.
Legal vs. Non-Legal Tests: Legal paternity tests are performed under strict chain-of-custody protocols to ensure accuracy and can be used as evidence in legal proceedings. Non-legal or at-home paternity tests are for personal use and may not be admissible in court.
Confidentiality: Paternity testing labs typically maintain strict confidentiality to protect the privacy of those involved. Information is not shared without consent.
Turnaround Time: The time it takes to receive paternity test results can vary but is usually within a few business days to a few weeks, depending on the testing method and the lab's processing time.
Cost: The cost of a paternity test can vary widely, depending on the method and the provider. At-home DNA paternity test kits are generally more affordable than legal tests.
Cultural and Legal Considerations: Laws and cultural norms regarding paternity testing can vary by country and region. It's important to be aware of the legal implications and requirements in your jurisdiction.

Paternity tests can provide clarity and resolution in situations where paternity is in question. It's essential to choose a reputable and accredited testing provider, especially if the results may have legal implications. Always follow the instructions provided with the test kit for accurate and reliable results.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best paternity tests on the market

DNA Direct Paternity Test Kit - All Lab Fees & Shipping to Lab Included - Results in 2 Business Days

DNA Direct Solutions

Based on 2 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The DNA Direct Home Paternity Test INCLUDES ALL LAB FEES for testing an alleged father and child. The DNA Direct Home Paternity kit is delivered to your door and includes cheek swabs, instructions, and a Free Return Mailer to the laboratory. Testing is 100% accurate. Discounts available if additional legally binding paternity testing is required. The accredited DNA testing laboratory is based in the USA. Paternity testing takes as little as 2 business days. Register online to receive your results. If you have questions about your paternity test results, a phone number and email are included in your kit. You will be able to print a copy of the paternity test results as soon as they are emailed to you. Due to New York State Law, this at-home DNA collection kit cannot be mailed to New York addresses.

All Lab Fees Included for 1 Father and 1 Child. Testing Performed by an AABB & ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory.
The DNA Direct Home Paternity Test INCLUDES 22 GENETIC MARKERS FOR 100% ACCURACY. Results completed in as little as 2 business days.
Kit includes FREE Return Shipping back to the Laboratory. Register your kit online to receive your results.
Professional and Confidential. Ships in discreet packaging for privacy. Phone Number Available for Questions.
Kit includes PAIN-FREE cheek swabs for sample collection in the comfort and privacy of your home. DNA Direct cannot send at-home collection kits to New York addresses. New York State Law requires that residents either obtain a court order or include a physician to complete the testing process.

User questions & answers

Question:	Hello, can we use the swab on anything the child drank out of, put mouth on, etc? Or will the test only work with a swabbing inside the cheek
Answer:	Per instructions, you must swab the cheek after the person has nothing to eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to collect enough of the DNA sample.
Question:	trying to get an idea on how long it takes to get to the lab, where is the lab located
Answer:	When you send the package you will get a tracking number. I am in Virginia and it took two days for it to arrive at in Texas.
Question:	Can two kids swab to see if they are biological
Answer:	The DNA kit can be used for a sibling DNA test, but there is a price difference. Please contact our Customer Service team at 575-915-1030 and they will be able to assist you with it.
Question:	Can this test be used for a child and paternal grandparent
Answer:	Thank you for contacting DNA Direct Solutions. If you are needing to perform a DNA test that is not a direct Paternity DNA test, please contact our Customer Service Team at 575-915-1030, and they will be able to assist you.

HomePaternity DNA Test Kit , Results in 2 Business Days, Lab Fees & Shipping to Lab Included

Based on 713 reviews Check latest price

WE ARE THE LAB, BASED IN THE U.S.A: Home Paternity never farms out testing services to third-party laboratories, which allows us to ensure excellence through every step of the testing process while more effectively safeguarding your privacy and personal data.
ALL LAB FEES INCLUDED: Home Paternity provides an easy-to-use, accurate, high-quality at-home paternity test, with no hidden costs. We even offer FREE sample-shipping back to our lab.
ACCURACY ASSURED: We run every test twice as an extra step to ensure accuracy and have multiple other processing safeguards in place; so you can be confident in your results
OPTION TO ADD MORE TEST PARTICIPANTS: Price for your Home Paternity kit includes testing for possible father + child, using painless cheek swabs. More individuals can be tested for an additional fee, which can be ordered when you register your kit.
PERSONALIZED SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST: Our caring customer service team notifies you when we receive the samples for your home paternity test, and you'll have online access to your report within our secure portal 1-2 business days after testing begins. You're also welcome to call us toll-free if you have questions during testing: We’re happy to help!

User questions & answers

Question:	Hello i bought this kit about 3 months ago and i found it a few days ago after i lost it, do they expire ? i tried logging in says” account inactive
Answer:	Hi! No, the kit doesn't expire. Have you submitted the samples yet? Until your results are ready, you'll get the "account inactive" message when trying to log in. To check on the status of your test, call us directly at 1-800-329-3758 (M-F, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Eastern).
Question:	Can you swab mother and father for results
Answer:	For a paternity test, there needs to be at least one child and one possible father. The mother can also participate to help strengthen results, but her DNA is not usually required.
Question:	Do you just need the child and fathers dna? Not the mothers
Answer:	Yes. Although the mother's DNA can help strengthen results under certain circumstances, it is usually not required. Should it turn out to be needed, the lab will suspend testing and ask for the mother's samples. We'll then include her in the test at no extra charge.
Question:	My tracking hasn’t said my kit has reached the testing facility after 2 weeks. Should I call the facility
Answer:	My kit reached the facility in 3 days but didn't get to a tech for 2 weeks. I would call the facility to see if it got lost.

Product features

Purchase the Home Paternity Test

To get started you will need a Home Paternity DNA collection kit. Buy the Home Paternity DNA testing system online.

Collect DNA Samples

Included with your Home Paternity DNA collection kit is a set of illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions on how to collect your DNA samples.

Mail Samples to the DNA Lab

Your Home Paternity DNA collection kit includes a prepaid return envelope that you'll use to send your samples to the laboratory for testing.

Login to View Results

Once testing is complete, your results will be available online. You will login with the email and password chosen during registration. Testing takes 2 days from the time the lab receives the samples (rush testing is available for a fee).

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is DNA paternity testing?

DNA testing is the most accurate method available for determining paternity. Its power lies in the ability to trace the pattern of inheritance for separate regions of the genetic material (chromosomes). From this information a probability of paternity can be calculated. This number reaches 99.99999% in most cases. The percentage of random men of the same race that can be excluded as the biological father is also computed for every case.

Does the mother have to be tested as well?

No, although results cannot be as conclusive. Ideally, the mother, child, and alleged father should be tested. A child receives half of their DNA from their mother, and the other half from their father. Because the DNA half that the child receives from the mother will match the mother's DNA exactly, the remaining unmatched DNA matches the biological father.

Can I test more than one child or alleged parent?

Yes, for an additional charge.

My Forever DNA - Paternity DNA Test Kit ▪ Includes All Lab Fees & Shipping to Lab ▪ 24 DNA (Genetic) Marker Test ▪ ACCURATE & CONFIDENTIAL

My Forever DNA

Based on 955 reviews Check latest price

Product description

▪ Our Mission: From our heart to yours we promise accurate and professional test results. Understanding that every customer is our highest priority.

▪ My Forever DNA offers an ACCURATE, FAST, ALL LAB FEES INCLUDED Paternity Test Kit. Includes 1 Alleged Father & 1 Child.

▪ Our contracted laboratory holds the Gold Standard in Accreditations: AABB Accredited and Annual Participants in the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Proficiency Testing.

▪ 24 DNA (Genetic) Marker Test + gender identification marker amelogenin. That’s 50% more DNA markers than industry standard. This provides the greatest accuracy and peace of mind to our valued customers.

▪ 99.99% Accurate: All exclusions are double tested to ensure accuracy. In the event that the first swab does not contain sufficient DNA, the second swab will be tested at no charge.

▪ All results are signed off on by our Chief Scientific Officer with 15+ year’s experience.

▪ FREE shipping included to return samples to our Lab.

▪ FAST & CONFIDENTIAL RESULTS: Results will be emailed within 1-3 business days after samples are received at Lab.

▪ EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE! Call or Email our friendly knowledgeable staff

ALL LAB FEES & SHIPPING INCLUDED - 1 alleged father and 1 child
99.99% ACCURATE - 24 DNA (GENETIC) MARKER TEST + gender identification marker amelogenin. This provides the greatest accuracy and peace of mind to our valued customers.
ACCREDITATION - Our contracted Lab is located in the US, and hold the Gold Standard in Accreditations: AABB Accredited, Annual Participates in the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Proficiency Testing
FAST & CONFIDENTIAL RESULTS will be emailed within 1-3 business days after samples have been received by lab.
EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE! Call or Email our friendly knowledgeable staff.

User questions & answers

Question:	What happens to the dna sample once it is tested? do you get the swabs back
Answer:	They send you the test results. No they don’t send the swabs back.
Question:	Does this work when potential fathers are siblings? Can the test be done with the 1 father, mother, and daughter
Answer:	Yes, and its even better that you are able to add the mothers DNA.
Question:	Can the results from the " Personal " kit and the Court kit differ in results
Answer:	Our Legal and Personal DNA Tests are performed in the same laboratory and in the same manor.
Question:	What if the the two individuals are in different states
Answer:	Not a Problem! We ship kits to multiple locations, case number provided. Once samples arrive at our laboratory they are matched, by way of case number, DOB, and names. Both Parties involved are able to receive results. Please call our office to order 402-639-1221. Thank You.

STK's Paternity Test Kit - Includes All LAB FEES and Free Return Mailer for 99.999% Accurate 2-Person Testing

STK

Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

Product description

STK Home Paternity Test INCLUDES ALL LAB FEES for testing a suspected father and child. The kit includes a Free Return Mailer. The test is up to 99.999% accurate and if additional legally binding paternity testing is required discounts are available. The STK Home Paternity Test is delivered to your door and includes swabs for gathering samples and a mailer for sending the genetic material back to the lab. The DNA testing lab is based in the USA and the paternity test samples are tested within hours of when they arrive by mail. Paternity testing takes 3-5 business days and status reports and results are available online. If you have questions about the paternity test result a 1-800 number is available. You will be able to print a copy of the paternity test results as soon as they are available online. A full color copy of the paternity test results is available to you by mail. The STK/SterlingTek name images and contents of this STK listing are protected by trademarks and copyrights.

All Lab Costs are Included for 1 suspected father and 1 child, all tests are ISO 17025 compliant
Paternity tests verify 16 DNA loci 3 more than the FBI for DNA Fingerprints
Online status and results are available and a color hard copy of results will be mailed
Professional and Confidential and a 1-800 number is available for questions
All Paternity Tests are 99.999% accurate, less than 1 chance in a 100,000 for a false positive

User questions & answers

Question:	this test is real? how can I find out
Answer:	Yeap it's real. As long as you follow the directions, you will get your results in about a week- 2 weeks
Question:	Can this be used on Mother/Baby to find out if the mother is actually the mother
Answer:	Did the baby come out of her? Then she's the mother. Come on, this is a joke question, right?
Question:	Can hair be used
Answer:	Paternity Depot (look it up on amazon, $10 less too) can work with Forensic samples if it is required. Plus it is an actual lab not a store that sells electronics
Question:	Will the web site tell you, samples recieved, testing in progress, or just when results are ready
Answer:	Once the samples have been recieved, The site will tell you something to the effect of "The samples have been collected. Please wait 3-5 buisiness days for processing". Once they are processed, you will get a link to view your results. Hope this helps!

Paternity Depot - Paternity Test kit with All lab fees Included

Paternity Depot

Based on 433 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Paternity Depot - Paternity Test kit with ALL lab fees included

CERTIFIED LAB: Sold directly from an approved Laboratory.
LOWEST PRICE ONLINE: All labs costs are Included for 1 suspected father and 1 child
QUICK RESULTS: Results in 5-7 days or less upon receipt of samples
ACCURACY GUARANTEED: Accurate test results
ONLINE RESULTS: You will be emailed an official report with your results

User questions & answers

Question:	Can this test be used for grandparents
Answer:	All the paperwork that came with mine spoke about paternity testing only. I'm not familiar enough with DNA testing to know if it would work for grandparents. It would just be easier to test parent and child.
Question:	Can I this test to check paternity of my two grandchildren
Answer:	For grandparent relationship test use: https://www.amazon.com/Grandparent-DNA-Test-Grandfather-Grandmother/dp/B084QC231K/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?keywords=grandparent+dna+test+home&qid=1583003102&sr=8-19
Question:	Can we use a hair sample
Answer:	No
Question:	Is it discreetly packaged
Answer:	Yes, no worries...seems like a reputable diagnosis, as well.