Need help with your test or have a question?
We’re happy to help. Connect with us via our contact form, or call our experts, and we’ll help you find your next step.
Need help with your test or have a question?
We’re happy to help. Connect with us via our contact form, or call our experts, and we’ll help you find your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please take a moment to review our FAQ section below for quick answers to common questions.
How long does it take to get DNA paternity test results?
Results are posted 2 business days after samples are received at the lab. If desired, you can expedite your test to 1-day or same-day results once samples arrive at the lab for an additional fee. If you do NOT see your results email within the expected time, please search your inbox and junk/spam folders for “dnacenter”.
How long does it take to get results for a DNA prenatal paternity test?
Prenatal paternity test results are posted 5 business days after samples are received at the lab. If desired, you can upgrade to 3-day expedited results, where results will be ready 3 days after all samples arrive at the lab.
How do I receive my results?
When your results are ready, you will receive an email with a link to login to our secure portal to view your results. You will need your username (your email address) and password. Your PDF report can be downloaded and printed at home, or you may also request a hard copy of the report to be mailed to your home address for an additional fee. For security reasons, we do not attach your results PDF directly to the email.
If you do not see your results email within the expected time, please search your inbox and junk/spam folders for “dnacenter”.
Will my prenatal paternity test include the gender of the baby?
Gender determination is optional and will be included on your report if you have selected that option.
When is the earliest I can get a paternity test while pregnant?
The DDC noninvasive prenatal paternity (NIPP) test can be performed as early as 7 weeks after conception.
How soon can I get a paternity test after my child is born?
Paternity tests can be swabbed on children of any age, including newborns. To avoid getting breastmilk or formula on the DNA swabs, infants should be swabbed before feeding, at least two hours after the last feed.
What do paternity test results look like, and how do I interpret them?
We follow all paternity-test guidelines for the language used in the report. For this reason, your paternity test results will say whether the possible father is excluded or is not excluded as the biological father of the child tested.
- IS EXCLUDED: Means that he cannot be the father because testing determined that he and the child do not share a biological parent/child relationship.
- IS NOT EXCLUDED: Means that he is extremely likely to be the biological father because testing determined that he and the child do share a biological parent/child relationship with a high degree of probability.
A paternity test result includes a table that lists:
- The allele sizes of the different DNA markers examined and used in the statistical analysis portion of the test (i.e., the DNA profile)
- A Probability of Paternity value
- A Combined Paternity Index (CPI) value
You will want to focus on the probability of paternity percentage. A result of 0% means the alleged father is not the biological father; a result of 99.99% or higher means the alleged father is most likely the biological father. The CPI value represents the odds against another random, unrelated, untested male in the population having the same results as the tested man. IMPORTANT: Paternity testing is calculated using statistics. Therefore, a probability of paternity can never be 100%, because that perfect score would require testing every man on earth with the same racial background of the man tested—which isn’t possible. A probability of 99%+ is considered conclusive for paternity.
Do you protect my privacy?
We take our customers’ privacy very seriously: both for your case and your DNA data.
- We will not release any information about your case to anyone without your authorization.
- We will always follow any special instructions you give us for communicating with you or other parties involved in your test.
- We never release test results over the phone.
Will my test results be legally binding?
For all legal tests, where samples are collected at an approved facility, DDC strictly adheres to the chain-of-custody procedure as outlined by the AABB, and this makes our test results legally defensible. More judges in more courtrooms will see DDC reports than any other paternity report. Many of our patients use their test results for legal purposes such as child custody, child support, immigration, Social Security benefit claims, inheritance claims, and more.
For peace-of-mind tests, where samples are typically collected at home, results are not legally defensible because we cannot verify the identifies of the tested parties.
Learn the differences between a home paternity test and a legal paternity test
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