Legal paternity tests are court admissible and can be used to various legal requirements. SmarTest Labs being AABB certified and using a strict chain of custody, provides confidential and secure court ordered Paternity, immigration, Maternity, Forensic and other legal DNA tests.
We handle both legal and non-legal results with the same care as we understand the importance, impacts of the results on relationships and families. Our track record of test results has had complete accuracy as our testers are trained and well qualified on the integrity of the process.
What are the different Types of paternity tests?
Paternity tests can be either legal or non-legal. The most common method used is called the Polymerase chain reaction method (PCR) which uses a cheek swab to provide you your results. This is the most common method used is both legal and non-legal paternity tests and has scientifically been proved to be over 99.99% accurate for a positive result and zero percent for a negative test result.
Legal Paternity Tests
Legal Paternity tests are commonly used for the following reasons:
- Child support requirements
- Immigrant purposes.
- Adoption requirements
- Inheritance reasons
- Custody requirements
- Forensic purposes ordered by court e.g. homicides, trace purposes etc.
- Insurance purposes
- Changes to birth certificates
- Peace of mind
- Pre-natal Paternity Test (NIPP) – Tests while pregnant
- Other legal purposes
Non-Legal Paternity Tests
Although Non-Legal Paternity test is not court admissible, it is a very common test to determine relationships between Father and Child. Home collection kits are not court admissible as they are not collected within the custody and control of a qualified laboratory setting. Non-legal Paternity tests are conducted the same way as a legal test using a cheek swab. The results are analyzed and presented the same way as a legal test.
At SmarTest Labs, because we are sensitive to the impacts legal and non-legal test results have on families, we adopt the same collection and analysis process as the legal process requiring additional administrative formalities per court requirements.
Non-Legal Paternity is used commonly for the following reasons:
- Peace of mind – this being a very common reason
- To determine scientifically the need for clarity in a father and child relationship.
- Includes Non-Invasive paternity Tests (NIPP)
- Health reasons – to determine genetic pre-disposition to genetic diseases
- Ancestry determination – this has become a very common demand and has significant accuracy in determining ancestry. SmarTest labs have an accurate process to determine your ancestry through population STR frequencies of over 520 reference populations from around the world.
How long does it take to get Paternity test results
Duration of tests results will vary depending on whether it is a legal or non-legal test. The legal test will take a little longer than the non-legal. Results are most often available between 2 days to 5 days.
Please contact SmarTest Labs at 301-686-8566 to get more information and guidance on your testing requirements.
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