When to take a DNA paternity test?

Everyone has doubts in their life. To establish a strong bond between the father of your child and your baby, you may decide to use certain methods to establish and verify who is the biological father of your child. Fortunately, there are different methods you can use to put your mind at ease, many of which you can do from the comfort of your own house.

When can I take a home DNA paternity test?

The earliest you can take a home DNA paternity test is 9 weeks gestation with a prenatal non-invasive paternity test.  The prenatal test involves taking a blood sample from the mother and the hypothetical father, since the baby’s DNA is within the mother’s bloodstream after 9 weeks, reach out to testmeDNA.com to find out more info.

How accurate is the prenatal test?

Since this test is processed in a lab, there is a 99% probability of whether the tested potential father is the biological father.

Home DNA paternity test vs. doctor’s office

When a doctor orders a paternity test, the professional uses a painless cheek swab to collect a sample from the potential father. Some doctors may also insist on drawing blood to ensure the test is completely accurate. However, cheek swabs are the most widely used method due to DNA extraction and analysis techniques.

As long as users follow the home DNA paternity test directions carefully and accurately, the quality of the cheek sample should be just as good as the one collected in a doctor’s office.

How much does a home DNA paternity test cost?

The cost for an at-home paternity test for one father and one child is $139 to run through the lab. The total cost for a legal paternity test with results that can be used in court stats at $300. Lastly, depending on what laboratory is used, the cost for a paternity test at a doctor’s office can be $400 or more.

Differences between home DNA paternity test vs. doctor

There is one main positive of using a home DNA paternity test compared to visiting a laboratory and doctor’s office.

  • Convenience – the home DNA paternity test is convenient and stress-free, allowing you to do the procedure on your own time and from the comfort of your own home.

However, there is a negative to using a home DNA paternity test compared to a doctor’s office swab.

  • Inadmissible results – When you do an at-home test, the results are not court-admissible, meaning the court cannot verify that all participants were properly registered. This means the DNA testing results cannot be used to prove paternity or a father relationship in a court or legal battle.

Conclusion

Some women may choose to have a potential biological father tested using a home DNA paternity test due to the convenience, stress-free nature, and ease of use. However, you need to keep in mind the results of this home test are not court-admissible. In this case, you will need to go to a doctor’s office to take a DNA paternity test and prove the relationship between the father and child.