DNA lab Archives - HomeDNA Paternity

Doing a DNA Test Discreetly and Without Consent: Possible?

by HOMEDNA on 05/17/2021

As a top paternity testing lab, we often get asked how to do a DNA test secretly, without getting consent from participating parties. There are some situations where wanting to be sneaky about testing really can seem justified:

If you have a partner that simply refuses to do paternity testing
If an alleged father is in prison or otherwise unavailable for a test
If you have a nagging relationship question and no one in your family wants to help find answers
And so many more!

While we understand and sympathize with your frustration, there are some very strict rules in place for paternity testing such as who must or doesn’t need to know about and/or consent to a test. So can you do a secret test without consent? Here are some scenarios and some facts to go along with them.

‘I don’t want the mother to know I’m doing a DNA test with the child.’

If you are a man seeking paternity answers through a DNA test, you do not need the mother’s permission if you are listed on the birth certificate and are considered the legal father.

If you are not a legal parent or legal guardian of the child and the child is underage, you must get signed consent from the mother or other legal guardian. If the necessary consent isn’t provided up front, then the paternity testing cannot even start until the proper documentation is submitted.

‘My partner won’t test. Can I just send in a hair sample instead of a cheek swab?’

While hair specimens, blood, and even toothbrushes are accepted , paternity testing using DNA samples from these objects still requires consent from all participants. Using special specimens is also much more expensive. There is a $150 non-refundable fee just for determining whether or not the special sample is viable for testing. The quality of the DNA samples collected via cheek swabs and the ease with which the sample can be extracted is one of the factors that keep paternity testing affordable.

‘I’ve asked and asked, but my partner still won’t do a DNA test. Now what?’

You can do paternity testing without the father if he’s not willing to test, as long as the requirement for legal consent for a minor child and other participants is still met. We can test relatives, such as paternal grandparents, the child’s sibling, or even an aunt or uncle and fit the data from the DNA together like a puzzle in order to determine paternity. That being said, to maximize the chances of getting conclusive results, it’s important to have as many 1^st degree relatives as possible participate, and the mother should also contribute her DNA. So although getting answers can be achieved this way, the test is much more expensive than a straight paternity test (lab fees start at $299), and there is a possibility of getting inconclusive results.

The Bottom Line about Paternity Testing without Consent

The responsibility is on the customer who orders the test to ensure that all necessary consents have been obtained.
Also keep in mind that home paternity testing results are not court-admissible, and so doing one in secret can have no legal benefit
You can always petition the court and ask that your partner or former partner be compelled to test. A legal test can then be ordered

Complete honesty with a partner or former partner in these types of situations is always a practice we recommend. It’s not an easy subject to talk about, but the peace of mind you get through home paternity testing is worth it!

Learn more about what to do if a partner refuses testing.

GET A HOME PATERNITY TEST KIT

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center.

What to Look for in a Home Paternity Test

by HOMEDNA on 05/16/2016

We’re currently experiencing a DNA test boom in the United States and all around the world! As technology improves and demand increases, more and more DNA kits are showing up on store shelves: tests for ancestry, tests for health, traits, and even fitness. So how do you know which are the best ones? Do your research!

Probably the most potentially life-changing DNA test on the market is the home patenrity test. It wasn’t that long ago that you had to go to a doctor or clinic to do this type of testing-whether you needed results for court or just your own peace of mind- and it cost hundreds of dollars. Now you can get paternity info for an affordable price. A paternity test is important and life-changing because results can affect relationships at a deep level, with long-lasting consequences for children and entire families. So it’s important to choose wisely – here are some things to look for.

Tips for Choosing a Home Paternity Test

Easy: The idea of taking a paternity test is stressful enough-you don’t need it to be compounded by complicated procedures. The kit (and the website for the lab) should have clear instructions on how to collect the DNA correctly the first time so that there won’t be delays in the testing process later on down the line.

Fast: Waiting a long time for the results of any type of test is the worst, isn’t it? A good paternity test lab provides options for you so you can get your report as quickly as possible. At the minimum, you should get results posted in two (2) days or less after samples arrive at the lab.

Accurate: You have to be able to trust that your home paternity test results are accurate. You just do. The best indicator that you’re likely to get accurate results is to choose a highly-accredited DNA lab. This type of lab maintains strict standards for handling samples and testing, and is regularly audited by outside regulatory agencies to ensure it is in compliance with or exceed industry-accepted standards. Not all companies who sell paternity test services are accredited, so be sure to check for accreditation information on the box and/or website.

Confidential: For most people, getting a paternity test is an intensely private family experience and not something they want publicized. It’s important to find a home paternity test lab for which confidentiality and security are high priorities. Customers should have access to a secure online account where they can get updates on their test and where their results report is posted. And customer service representatives should require proof of identification before releasing any info over the phone or in print.

Affordable: For a simple paternity test (one possible father+ one child + the mother), the cost should be less than $200 total, including the lab fee and retail price of the kit. There are labs that charge hundreds of dollars for this type of paternity testing, yet the processes are identical to the ones for more affordable at-home tests.

Options: There are times when a possible father is not available for testing. A good DNA testing lab also offers family reconstruction testing to help determine paternity or family relationships testing other family members. This type of test costs more due to the more extensive analysis required, but it should definitely be an option.

Great Reviews: Every lab is going to say they’re the greatest and the best, but don’t take their word for it. Read reviews by real customers and learn first-hand about their experiences. Not all reviews are going to be positive, but for a good lab, the positive reviews will far outweigh the number of negative ones and the lab will respond thoughtfully to customer concerns.

Do You Need Court-admissible Paternity Test Results?

A critical thing to remember is that-no matter which test you choose-results for a home paternity test are generally not court-admissible. So if you need a test for legal purposes (child support/custody/immigration/inheritance rights), it is critical that you contact the lab of your choice directly before doing the test so that they can make arrangements to have DNA collections witnessed.

IDENTIGENE DNA Paternity Test

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri from 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center.

I got Different Results from Another DNA Lab. How is that Possible?

by HOMEDNA on 05/22/2014

Can you relate to this scenario? You have already received your results for a DNA paternity test and, for your own personal reasons or perhaps for legal ones, you’ve decided to test again. This time your results were different. Perhaps the only factor that changed is where you tested your samples. You begin to question the accuracy of the lab(s) and the test itself. You sent in the same mother, child and possible father both times, and now you’re questioning the accuracy of the lab and the test.

Remember one thing: DNA is consistent and unchanging. DNA does not change over time or even because it was tested in a different lab.

DNA Lab Accreditation

At IDENTIGENE, we know the importance of DNA results and how they can be life-changing. We are an accredited laboratory and follow very strict guidelines to ensure accurate results. Maintaining these accreditations includes regular inspections by the accrediting agencies. IDENTIGENE is currently accredited by the AABB, L-A-B and New York State Department of Health. Any test done with IDENTIGENE will produce the same results as another lab with similar accreditations as long as each lab receives the correct samples from the same people participating in the test.

Personal Paternity Test

Back to our scenario. When collecting samples with a Home Paternity Test, be sure all participants collect and mail samples together. Participants may not live close to each other or there may be other reasons to collect and send samples separately. When a test is done separately, each person must be careful to avoid mistakes (or tampering) with the DNA sample collection swabs. In these situations, the integrity of each person is critical. If test results from two accredited labs are different, chances are it’s one of two scenarios:

It’s possible that there was an honest mistake in collecting the samples.
It’s also possible that one party intentionally tampered with the swabs before mailing them to the lab (see article about paternity fraud.)

In either case, a witnessed collection (legal DNA test) is your solution.

Court-Admissible Legal DNA Test

The only difference between a court-admissible DNA test and an at-home paternity test is the collection. A court-admissible test requires a disinterested third party to witness the DNA collection and verify identities of the participants being tested. Participants must show a valid form of picture ID in order to participate and have their DNA samples collected. Part of the witnessed DNA collection process includes a Chain of Custody Form, used to document who had control and possession of the DNA samples. A witnessed collection by a third party eliminates the chance for mistakes or tampering with the samples.

Guaranteed-accurate DNA Test Results

We guarantee the accuracy of our results and this guarantee depends on the correctness of the samples we receive. This is why it is so important to know, without any uncertainty, whose samples are being sent to our lab.

For at-home collection, its best for all parties to collect samples together, helping each other to avoid mistakes. It’s also important that all parties mail the samples together, so there’s no chance for tampering.
If collecting together is not possible, then consider a witnessed collection. (A witnessed collecting is required when testing for legal purposes, such as child support or immigration.) A collector guards against any potential problems by verifying the participants’ identities and helping to avoid tampering or mistakes of any kind.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri from 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center.