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Can I Do a DNA Paternity Test With the Father and Child Only?

Mar 10, 2017 | Paternity

A paternity test without the mother

Can I do a Paternity Test Without the Mother?

DDC always recommends that the mother contribute her DNA sample to a paternity test. However, although her participation is recommended, it’s not required. If you are trying to decide whether or not mom should be part of testing, here are some sample scenarios that can help you make the best choice for your unique situation.

A Mother’s Participation can Help Strengthen Paternity Results

In the majority of cases, a paternity question can be answered with only the possible father’s DNA and the child’s But in some relatively rare instances, the mother’s DNA can help strengthen results.

Example 1:

A child gets 50% of their DNA from the biological mother and 50% from the biological father. Therefore, the child must match both parents at every single DNA marker. If the man being tested has only one mismatch with the child, it may be due to a natural mutation and may not necessarily mean he’s not the biological father. When the mother’s DNA is included in the test, this question can be resolved and conclusive results given.

Example 2:

If there are two possible fathers for a child and those fathers are biologically related (brothers, father/son, etc.), then it’s essential to include the mother’s DNA sample in order to strengthen results.

A Mother Who Participates Gets Guaranteed Access to Results

As a top DNA lab maintaining the highest levels of accreditation, DDC maintains a strict policy of confidentiality. Results can only be released to participants in the test, to their legal representatives (such as lawyers), or to the tested child’s legal guardian, if that child is a minor. Therefore, to guarantee quick access to test results, it’s a great idea for the mother to just submit her DNA too, even if it ends up not being needed to strengthen results.

If You’re Doing a Legal Chain-of-Custody Paternity Test

In many cases, courts who order a paternity test require the mother to participate. Court-ordered tests are also called legal or chain-of-custody tests, wherein DNA collection and sample-submission to the lab are supervised by an approved witness.

 If the court requires the mother to participate in testing, then the test cannot be performed without her.

Call us at 800-929-0847: We’re here to help.

Do you have questions or comments about this topic? Share in the comments and we’ll answer.
44 Comments
  1. Inetta

    How can I get a copy of a test done back in 2003?

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Inetta. At-home test results are kept on file for one (1) year, and legal tests are kept on file for seven (7); so unfortunately we can’t help you because your test was performed 15 years ago.

      Reply
      • Thozama

        Can a parternity results can issued without a mother although you were participated in the process?

        Reply
        • DDC

          Hi, Thozama. Can you please rephrase the question? I cannot understand what you’re asking. Thanks!

          Reply
    • Maggie

      My son Father live in Africa Liberia, my son live in USA with me his biological mother, how can i do a DNA test for my son’s father and my son

      Reply
  2. JR

    Hello, My wife of 32 years recently had a nightmare where our infant son (now 24 yoa) was switched at a day care center for another child. Her insecurity was such she began to believe this to be true, in spite of there being no reason to doubt he is our child. Three months ago I sent my son’s and my samples to you and the result was as I predicted , with a 99.99997% probability of paternity, CPI of 4,107,875. That placated her for a while, but she recently saw a ten year old blog post from some geneticist at Stanford, who claimed he heard of a similar father / son test that was overturned with the inclusion of the mother. Her question is addressed by your claim ” A “motherless” test could require more extensive analysis to produce conclusive results, but the results are just as accurate as those of a standard paternity test.”, yet she needs a more definitive answer. Is it worth repeating the test with her included? Will it materially alter the confidence of your results? Can I just send her swabs in if we decide to go that route? Respond via email if possible? Thanks.

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, JR. I will respond to you via email, upon your request.

      Reply
    • Jess

      Hi. Should a mother participate in y-str with her two sons who she believe may have the same father? Could any mutation the may occur between the conception of two brothers be determine by the Y-STR test in your lab? What if they both have the same father but the youngest received a gene mutation from the father, could you tell?

      Reply
      • DDC

        Hi, Jess. A woman does not have a Y chromosome, therefore the participation of the mother does not add any value to this particular test. Any possible mutations are always taken into account during analysis.

        Reply
  3. Michelle

    Hi my husband had sleep with another woman and she had a baby… But she was also sleeping with his brother, and the brother took a DNA test and it came back 00.000% NOT THE FATHER… And I was wondering does my husband need to take a test to be sure the child is not his?please answer via Email Thank you

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Michelle. Yes, your husband does need to test also, and he needs to notify the lab of his biological relationship to the other man who was tested. If you want to discuss this further privately, you’re welcome to contact us privately on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DDCPaternity/

      Reply
    • kashareona

      Can the mother of the son take the paternity test instead of him

      Reply
      • DDC

        Hi, Kashareona. No, because the lab would detect that the DNA is for a female instead of for a male (possible father).

        Reply
  4. Brittany

    My baby’s father passed away. Her grandfather on his side took a DNA test without me but it was a paternity test instead of a grandparent test. The test came up negative. Could that be because he took the wrong test and I wasn’t tested as well?

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Brittany. Unless customers specify that it should be a grandparent test, then the lab makes the assumption that it’s a paternity test. So it makes sense that you would have gotten an exclusion. You should definitely retest, specify that it’s a grandparent test, and contribute your DNA as well.

      Reply
    • Rhonda

      Hi. Someone approached me saying we share the same father. If I want to find out if we are really siblings, should we take a sibling DNA test or should he take a DNA paternal test with my dad?

      Reply
      • DDC

        Hi, Rhonda. Ideally, the person who contacted you should do a paternity test with your dad, if he’s willing.

        Reply
  5. Jane

    I did not participate in the test because I didn’t think I needed to. The rest was 99.96% inclusion with a CPI of 2,000 and one mutation. Should I retake the test with my sample or can I trust the result?

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Jane. You can trust your result.

      Reply
  6. Queen

    My boyfriend took my daughter for a test with another woman with him as the mother and the test came back as he wasn’t the father ,Should we retest with me the mother?

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Queen. If the other “mother’s” DNA was included in the test, the lab shouldn’t have issued results at all, since it would have been obvious she’s not the mother. I suggest you request a legal test where DNA collection is supervised and IDs are checked to prevent this type of fraud. Call 800-681-7162 (M-F 8 am to 8 pm Eastern).

      Reply
  7. Grace

    Hi,What other sample other than blood can be used to the DNA test between the father and the son, if as a mother I dnt want my child to be part of the trauma

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Grace. Cheek swabs are standard for paternity testing. You can tell your child that the swabs are for a lab procedure.

      Reply
      • Michael

        I took the test with my father and the result came back negative but mine only had 13 samples his had 20 . My mother passed so she didn’t participate. I strongly believe he’s my father my mother gave birth at 13 and he was her first sexual relationship .we look alike and he’s named on my birth certificate . My assumption is something went wrong . We took the test oct 2 ,2020

        Reply
        • DDC

          Hi, Michael. You didn’t mention whether the test you did was an at-home test or a legal one. I suggest you contact us at 800-929-0847 to see if another test is advisable.

          Reply
  8. Kel

    Ok a DNA Test was taken with out me for my daughter and what was believed to be her father. The test said that he was not the father. I have blue eyes my daughter has blue eyes the guy’s eyes are brown but is mothers are blue. I was wondering if this type of mutation could play a roll in why his test came out negative? Or if there could have been tampered with?

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Kel. Paternity testing is performed using only non-coding DNA, and so the genes for eye color aren’t even involved in the test and any mutation there is not a factor. As for whether or not the samples were tampered with, if you performed a legal test that’s not an issue because DNA collection is independently witnessed. If you did an at-home test and did not witness each other’s DNA collection and mailing, then you may have cause for concern.

      Reply
  9. Jalisa

    Can a father take a home DNA test without the child’s mother?

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Jalisa. If the possible father is not a legal parent, then it is his responsibility to ensure that permission has been provided by the legal parent. If he is the legal parent, then he can do so without the mother.

      Reply
  10. Amy

    I’m very concerned about my son’s mental health after just being made aware that he could possibly be the father of a 4 month old baby girl. He’s going through so many things and he can’t even trust the results of the DNA test that he said she preformed on him and then sent me the results by text that says he is 99.99% a match yet we haven’t seen the hard copy and she also said that he was just one of three people who could of been a match. The only copy we did see was of the first man she tested (and the typing was in a different color)a month ago when he just found out that she had a baby and now she wants him to be a full time daddy? He doesn’t trust her for so many reasons but if she did manage to give birth to his child without his involvement he feels like it’s extremely unfair and she had told me that she was at school pregnant (non of this we knew) letting people think that she was carrying his child because she has an obsession with him. What should he do and what are his rights? She tries to threaten lawyers to me when he doesn’t respond to her. I’m physically and mentally disabled and exhausted but I’m not stupid and he just needs to be sure. Thank you

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Amy. Your son has no way of knowing if anything he is being shown as evidence is legitimate. She could have swabbed someone else’s cheek and submitted that DNA as his. Your son has two options: (1) He can wait to see if she can establish a court case for paternity; if the court deems there’s reason for him to test, then he should. Or (2) He can be proactive and insist that she and the child participate in a legal paternity test with court-admissible reports so he can find out right away whether or not he is the biological father. Since she doesn’t appear to be trustworthy, another at-home test wouldn’t be the best option. For your son’s peace of mind, DNA collection should be witnessed. If he decides on #2 and the mother agrees to testing, he can contact our team directly and they can set up the legal, witnessed test: 800-919-0847

      Reply
  11. Yoliswa

    Hello I have 2 children boy and the girl and i said yes because I know that they are his children but when the results come back the boy say they don’t match and the girl is a match is it’s possible

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Yoliswa. It would appear that your children have a different biological father, from what you said. Yes, it’s possible.

      Reply
      • Yoliswa

        He was My first lover i sleep with him and i fall pregnant for the boy the one that his DNA doe not match,then when we have sex again i fall pregnant again and the other child was still young he was 6months

        Reply
  12. Yoliswa

    When we get the results my baby boy was so stress out he couldn’t eat anything ,he keeps asking question why this is happening to him I’m very stressed that could affect him on his school work

    Reply
  13. Edwin

    My son is 23 but he refuses to do a swab what other method i can used

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Edwin. Your son is an adult and must provide his consent for testing. If he refuses to do a swab, then he’s refusing to test.

      Reply
  14. Candy

    Hi my husband does not think it possible he could have fathered a young man birthed by a woman my husband only saw twice. They may be related possible cousins. Could that make him look like the father in a dna test? Also she may have actually been with his brother. How accurate would dna testing be for only father child?

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Candy. A cousin relationship doesn’t matter. Ideally, your husband AND his brother would both do the test, along with the mother of the child. If that’s not possible, your husband could test by himself, as long as the lab is made aware ahead of time that another possible father is brother to the man being tested. This way, the lab can take this information into account when performing the analysis and test additional markers if necessary. The mother of the child should also participate in this test. Good luck!

      Reply
  15. Taylor

    Hi, my daughter and her father recently got a DNA test done. I am very certain he is her biological father. I am the mother and have been requested to get a swab done as well. Does this mean he is not the father? Should I be worrying so much? I am stressed out because it doesnt make any sense to me.

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Taylor. You can ask those doing the testing why you were requested to contribute your DNA as well. Without seeing the data I can’t tell you for sure, but it’s most likely because the analysts need your DNA in order to strengthen results.

      Reply
  16. Tenise

    The father of my child is denying my son because he looks like me what do I need to do to get a DNA test so I can prove he is the father.

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Tenise. Do you want to know for informational purposes only? Do you anticipate needing to use the report in court for child support? I suggest you contact our experts directly to see what type of test might be best for your situation: 800-681-7162 (M-F, 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern).

      Reply

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