How to Get a Paternity Test Done

Paternity tests determine the biological father of a child. These tests can carry a lot of weight---emotionally and financially---but they can be necessary for many reasons. If a woman has had multiple partners during the time of conception, she may want to get a paternity test done to determine who the father is. The potential father may want the test done for peace of mind or to establish legal paternity. Courts may order a paternity test when setting up a child support order. There are many types of tests to choose from, but the most reliable is a DNA paternity test, which is more than 99.9 percent accurate. Tests can be performed either before or after the baby is born. Children of all ages can be tested to determine paternity but children under 16 years old need written consent of a legal guardian.

Things You'll Need

• Alleged father(s) Mother Child Appropriate clinic Money

Instructions

1. Locate a clinic or laboratory that offers paternity testing. Ask your family doctor or local child support enforcement agency for a recommendation. You can also look in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet. There are many types of paternity testing centers around the country. Look for one that's accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). If the test is court-ordered, the court should provide you with a list of clinics.

2. Call around and compare prices. The tests can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000 and are not covered by insurance.

3. Make an appointment at the facility. Know that the mother, alleged father and child all need to be present, so schedule accordingly.

4. Go to the appointment. The clinic will either take blood samples or take a swab from inside the cheek of the mother, child and alleged father. The clinic will compare the genetic markings in these samples.

5. Wait for the results, which can take up to one week. Ask the clinic for an accurate time frame.

Tips & Warnings

• Home paternity tests are available, but they are not legally binding and are not as accurate as DNA tests. Simple blood tests are another way to determine paternity. Though these are affordable, they also are not as accurate as DNA testing.

• If you want a prenatal paternity test, the mother will need to have an amniocentesis (testing of the fluid surrounding the fetus) or chorionic villus sampling (testing of placental tissue) performed. Know that these are invasive tests that carry a small risk of miscarriage. These tests can be performed as early as the 10th week of pregnancy.