- Purchase a kit at the drugstore. A pioneer of retail testing kits, Identigene, by Sorenson Genomics, is sold in 4,300 stores in 30 states. Identigene predicts selling 52,000 kits annually at approximately $30 each to consumers curious about their paternity or that of a child. However, Johns Hopkins University's Rick Borchelt, communications director for the university's Genetics and Public Policy Center, warns of fallout from cheap home tests that may needlessly complicate the lives of people who rely upon them.
- Search the Internet for a testing kit. Be aware that there are many types and prices of kits for sale online and you'll need to evaluate their reliability based on what you read. Paternity testing sites generally claim to be at least 99 percent accurate and all promise discretion, confidentiality and quick turnaround. If you choose to go this route, look for firms that are accredited and have been around for years. GeneSys, for example, is a 15-year-old laboratory that charges $119 per test and whose site provides a list of things to look for in an online testing company.
- Take a paternity test at a local laboratory to be certain the results are as reliable as possible. The American Pregnancy Association advocates on behalf of laboratories certified by the American Association of Blood Banks (see Resources), particularly if the facility focuses exclusively on paternity identification rather than a broad spectrum of DNA tests. You'll get results within five business days and should expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $2,000 depending on where you live. If you need results so solid they will stand up in court, you'll have a much greater chance of a successful outcome if you choose a lab rather than a home test.
- Ask your doctor to perform your paternity test. You'll have to pay for both the lab fees and the doctor's visit, but the stress involved in learning the news is likely to make you vulnerable and overwhelmed--a state of mind your doctor knows how to handle as well as he knows you. Not only can you count on accurate results, but also your doctor will be in a position to get you psychological help if you need it.
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Visit or call your public health department to inquire into paternity testing. With state and local governments experiencing financial shortfalls, don't expect to be met with an offer to shuttle you off to a lab for a DNA evaluation. However, you may be eligible for a retail kit that, while not necessarily as reliable, may satisfy your paternity questions.
Court-mandated paternity tests may be picked up by the legal system in your area of the country if so ordered by a judge, so check with Legal Aide or your bar association's pro bono arm to find out if there is a way to get the results you're seeking.
