Paternity Testing

Rapid ♦ Highly Reliable ♦ Inexpensive

Paternity testing is generally performed using peripheral blood, cord blood, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, or cheek swab samples. This test requires a blood sample from the potential father(s) and the child(ren). A blood sample from the mother is optional. Fetuses can be tested by routine fetal sampling procedures (i.e., CVS or amniocentesis) or from cord blood at the time of birth. The accuracy of paternity DNA analysis is 100% if the potential father is excluded as the biological father of the child. If the potential father is included as the biological father of the child the accuracy is greater than 99.9%. This is the required certainty for a court of law.

Interested individuals in the Boston area may call for an appointment to have their blood samples drawn at the Center for Human Genetics, Inc. Please note that we will require photo identification from adults and photographs will be taken of minors without photo identification. In addition, cheek swabs are available for young children and babies in lieu of a blood sample. The accuracy remains the same. Our laboratory can also accept samples drawn at outside institutions. Please call prior to drawing samples so that we can send you the appropriate legal forms to complete and send with the samples.

Results can be expected in 1-2 weeks. The cost of testing is generally not covered by any insurance company and must be paid in full the time the samples are submitted. Cash, credit card, certified check, or money order are acceptable forms of payment.

When ordering paternity testing, please use the requisition form as well as the paternity form and that the following is required:

  1. Proof of identification is required for each tested participant. This can include a xerox of a photograph, xerox of a driver’s license, photograph, footprint, or fingerprints. Also include Social Security numbers and birth dates.
  2. Record the name of person who drew the sample (blood, amniotic fluid, CVS, tissue, etc.), the date, and the location of the drawing.
  3. Record the chain of custody by obtaining the signatures of every person who watched or held the sample from drawing to delivery at our laboratory.
  4. Include the briefest case history possible (e.g., To include Man as Father of the Baby/To exclude Man as Father of the Baby). Indicate who is the child, the mother, and the possible father. Have a proband (the person to whom results will be reported) sign to verify that this information is correct.
  5. For database records, state the race of each participant (Caucasian, Black, or Asian).