Results from a home DNA tests cannot be used as proof of paternity for legal reasons such as child support, custody, Social Security, etc. Home results cannot be used because the DNA sample is collected by the test participants themselves. This means chain-of-custody protocol cannot be followed, and identities of tested parties cannot be independently verified.

Yes. Results for a home DNA test are just as accurate as they are for a legal paternity test. In fact, once DNA samples arrive at the lab, the process for testing is exactly the same for a home test as it is for a legal one. You can be certain your results for a home paternity test are accurate for the samples we are provided, but remember the results are just for peace of mind and personal knowledge only. If you need results for court or think you may in the future, call us.

Cheek-swab samples are not the same as saliva samples, so we recommend that customers swab for a full 30 seconds per swab while ensuring they avoid the saliva-rich gum areas.

If samples seem “too wet” once swabbing is complete, just wave the swab in the air for 1-2 minutes to air dry prior placing it in the paper sample envelope.

Yes, grandparent DNA testing is possible even when using samples from just one paternal grandparent and the child; but the results may be less conclusive. If possible, we always recommend both paternal grandparents provide samples. We also recommend including the mother in the testing, if possible.

Cheek swab samples are the industry standard for home DNA tests. Cheek swabs make DNA extraction by our laboratory’s professionals standardized and easy, which is one way to keep costs lower for our customers.
For Non-Standard samples, anything that is not an oral cheek swab, please see our Forensic Paternity Test page.

If you have any questions regarding sample viability, reach out to one of our DNA experts.

Yes, a grandparent test can be done without the mother, although we highly recommend that the mother provides a DNA sample as well. Her participation helps the analysts to better identify the child’s paternal DNA and it can also help to strengthen the overall probability of relationship percentage.

A grandparent DNA test is just as accurate as a paternity test, but the conclusiveness of the results can have more variation.

For example, the probability of a relationship between a father and child is almost always 99.9% or higher – or 0%, but for a single-grandparent test, the probability of a relationship might be 92%, which is still considered a conclusive result.

To strengthen the conclusiveness of test results, we recommend that both paternal grandparents test (if possible) and the child’s mother participate in testing. When both paternal grandparents and the mother participate in testing, probability of paternity is nearly always 99.9% or higher.

The probability of relationship (PRI) is given as a percentage in your grandparent DNA test results report. You can interpret your results based on the following:

• Above 90.9%: the relationship is supported by DNA testing

• 9.09% – 90.9%: inconclusive result, and additional parties need to be tested

• Below 9.09%: the relationship is not supported by DNA testing

If a probability of relationship (PRI) of 93% is given for a grandparent test, the result could be understood as: “There is a 93% probability that the persons tested share a grandparent/grandchild relationship.”
See our blog for more info.