Once you’ve decided on which type of DNA testing you need, such as paternity testing or other types of relationship testing, you must then decide if you want results just for peace of mind, or if you are going to need paternity results for legal purposes.
Personal “peace-of- mind” DNA paternity testing
The at-home peace-of-mind paternity test is not considered to be court admissible. The collection kits are purchased at a local pharmacy and include all supplies needed for participants to collect DNA samples, along with detailed instructions on how to do so. When participants collect and submit their own samples, the results can only be used for their personal information. Because samples are self-collected there is no way for IDENTIGENE (or the courts) to confirm the samples belong to the correct individuals indicated as being tested. This is because collections are done by the participants in their homes and there is no independent verification of the submitted samples.
Legal DNA paternity testing
Legal DNA testing is used when paternity results are needed for legal purposes, such as child support, social security, child custody, survivor’s benefits, etc. The testing process is identical for both personal and legal DNA testing once the samples arrive at the laboratory.
The collection and submission process is what separates the legal DNA test from the personal DNA test.
In a legal collection all participants are sent to a third-party Collector. IDENTIGENE works maintains a nationwide database to assist us with scheduling DNA testing with Collectors in your area. IDENTIGENE also takes care of all of the paperwork and getting supplies to the Collector, so all participants need to do is to go to the appointment.
The Collector establishes a chain of custody that verifies they have witnessed the collection of each participant’s DNA sample and sent those samples directly to the laboratory. The Collector verifies identification through government-issued ID, and photographs are taken at the time of collection, if applicable. This way it can be proven in court who provided samples for the paternity test and results can be used to render legal decisions.
For answers to additional questions about how the legal DNA paternity test works, please contact our expert client support team at 800-344-9583 Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-5:30 PM Eastern Time. They are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Stephanie says
If someone took my child’s DNA without consent from me or my child’s father is it then illegal?
HomeDNA Identigene says
Hi, Stephanie. Every state has different rules about legality, but it’s certainly against our Terms and Conditions.