Answer: Yes!
Paternity Testing or Maternity Testing?
Paternity testing involves a DNA test with a potential biological father and the child in question, but every now and then it’s not the father being questioned: it’s the mother. Maternity testing usually occurs in adoption or immigration cases; however, when the question of whether someone is the biological mother of a child does arise, a maternity test may help get the answer.
Maternity Testing to Help Answer Questions of Maternity
Maternity testing is completed in the same way as paternity tests. The probable mother swabs her cheek for DNA samples and sends them in to our laboratory for maternity testing along with cheek swab samples from the child. The single difference is the report will indicate it’s a maternity test instead of a paternity test.
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William says
I have read your website to learn of paternity and maternity tests.
A blood test is used to determine paternity.
A DNA test is used to determine maternity.
My question: Is there a blood test to determine maternity?
Identigene says
Hi, William. Actually, a cheek swab is used to collect DNA both for maternity and paternity testing. No blood sample is needed anymore, except for a non-invasive prenatal paternity test.
Patty says
Can maternity be determined by using a piece of hair that does not contain the root?
Identigene says
Hi, Patty. To extract enough DNA for testing, there must be multiple strands and they must contain the root.