Questions by Phone about DNA Paternity Tests

Why do I need a DNA test?
There are many reasons people need DNA testing. The important thing is getting you the answer to your family relationship question as quickly as possible so . DNA testing is used for many reasons, including:

• Paternity

Questions about parentage
Completion of the Acknowledgement or Affidavit of Paternity
Child support or child custody issues 
Social Security or Military child survivor benefits if the alleged father is deceased
Estate and Inheritance claims

• Immigration paperwork
• Adoption process or surrogate parent biological confirmation
• Protecting Native American tribal enrollment
• Providing Infidelity confirmation

Usually the mother, child and alleged father should all be tested. The mother contributed one-half of her DNA to the child and the remaining DNA must then match the alleged father. It is possible to obtain accurate results without mother's sample if she is not available for testing.

DNA test results provided by DNA Services of America are extremely accurate. We routinely release test results with a probability of paternity of 99.9% or higher; or, 100% probability in cases which exclude the alleged father. In addition we test each DNA sample twice following the highest standards in quality control which is unprecedented in the DNA testing industry.

DNA Services of America uses a cotton-tipped swab, called a "buccol cheek swab". The DNA Sample is collected by swabbing the inside cheek of the mouth. It is painless and non-invasive, and the results are just as accurate as blood samples. For certain kinds of DNA tests, like those for infidelity, other biological samples are acceptable including drops of blood or other genetic material found on an item of clothing.

We make the DNA sample collection process easy and convenient for you. First we will either arrange an appointment at our collection facility or we can have our collector come to you on a mobile basis. We will even make arrangements to come to the hospital as early as the day of birth of the child. Once your DNA sample has been collected it is sent to the lab for processing.  The collection process takes less than 30 minutes, including any paperwork that needs to be sent with your DNA sample.

DNA Services of America will make arrangements for all parties' samples to be collected in the place that is most convenient to them. All DNA test samples are coordinated by your assigned case manager if they are collected in different locations.

After your DNA samples are collected and the test fee has been paid in full, it typically takes three to five business days to report the DNA test results back to you. Next-day service is also available for an additional cost.

Yes you can if you get a Legally Admissible DNA Test. The report we provide from our Legally-Admissible DNA Test is evidence that proves or disproves paternity if sample collections are performed using the chain-of-custody process. If your DNA sample is not collected by a disinterested third party (the Chain of Custody process) then the DNA test results cannot be used as evidence in court.

You may pay for your DNA test with cash, a personal check, cashier's check, money order or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express).  DNA test results are not issued until the test fee has been paid in full.  We will work with you on a payment plan that you can afford to make.

Please contact the Service Center at the number above to make and discuss payment options. 

Please contact the Service Center at the number above to make and discuss payment options. Your dedicated Case Manager will schedule and coordinate your DNA sample collection appointment and discuss payment options with you.

When you come to the DNA sample collection appointment you will be need to do the following in order to meet the Chain of Custody requirements:

• Present government-issued identification for adults being tested
• Present identification for minors such as a birth certificate or social security card
• You will be photographed and fingerprinted
• You must complete a Client Identification and Consent Form (the minor's consent form should be signed by the child's legal guardian)

Please make sure that adults have the required government-issued identification and that you remember to bring a birth certificate or social security card for your minor child.

No. If the mother is not available to participate we can perform a motherless paternity test at no additional charge. Results from a motherless DNA paternity test are just as accurate as those of a standard paternity test.

If two possible fathers are related as full brothers or father and son, they may share many of the DNA markers used in paternity testing. This means that if proper precautions are not taken, both men could test positive as the child's biological father. DNA testing will determine paternity in a case involving related alleged fathers but we must be aware of the situation before the testing process begins.

DNA Services of America offers two options for cases involving alleged fathers who are related:

• Option 1: Test both alleged fathers, the child, and the mother at the same time. By comparing both alleged fathers' DNA profiles with the child's DNA profile, our expert laboratory staff can achieve accurate and conclusive test results. There is an added fee for the additional alleged father.
   
• Option 2: Test one alleged father with extended analysis. This option can be taken when only one of the alleged fathers is available for testing. To produce a conclusive result, we must perform extended testing and statistical analysis. There is an additional fee for the extended testing and analysis. 

Yes you can if the mother is between 10 and 24 weeks pregnant. An OB-GYN can collect a DNA sample from the developing child through either chorionic villi sampling (10-13 weeks) or amniocentesis (14-24 weeks). The baby's prenatal sample can then compared against the mother's and alleged father's DNA samples which are collected using the buccal (cheek) swabbing method. There will be additional fee involved in the collection of the baby's DNA sample and you need to check with your doctor regarding this additional fee.

Please contact the Service Center at the number above to make and discuss payment options.  A knowledgeable case manager will confidentially discuss your situation with you and advise which DNA test is appropriate for your situation.

We have an extensive network of DNA sample collection locations and franchise service center locations. When you contact us at the number above a dedicated case manager will schedule a local appointment that is convenient for all of the tested parties. We will schedule your DNA sample collection appointment at a time and place that works best for you.

When you arrive at your appointment your identification will be verifed and photocopied by the sample collector. You will also have your photograph and thumbprint taken and you will need to sign a consent form for the DNA test. These three elements are required by the chain of custody process in order to make your DNA test results legally defensible.

The DNA sample collector will collect your DNA samples using buccal swabs.  These are cotton-like swabs that he or she will rub against the inside of your cheek to "collect" loose cheek cells. The collector will then send all the DNA samples and paperwork directly to our laboratory.

DNA Services of America strictly adheres to the chain of custody process for legal DNA paternity testing. This makes our test results legally defensible. Legal DNA test results are used for legal purposes such as child custody, child support, immigration, Social Security benefit claims, inheritance claims, and for other situations like Native American tribal enrollment.

DNA Services of America's Legal DNA paternity test follows a strict chain of custody process, which makes our DNA test results defensible in courts and other government agencies. Legal DNA test results are routinely used to prove paternity and obtain child support.

The chain of custody process is what makes the paternity test results legally defensible in courts and other government agencies. There are three main points in a chain of custody process:

• The tested parties are properly identified when their samples are collected. (Their government-issued IDs are verified and photocopied, and the individuals are photographed and thumbprinted.) 
• The samples are collected by a neutral third party-someone who has no personal interest in the outcome of the test (e.g., a hospital, clinic, or laboratory staff person). 
• The samples are tamper-taped, securely packaged at the collection site, and carefully inspected upon receipt for any evidence of tampering. 

When these three requirements are satisfied and documented, the paternity test results are legally defensible. This means that you can use them for legal purposes like child custody, child support, immigration and Native American tribal enrollment.