APRIL 6, 2020

COVID-19: There Is a Possibility I Could Be Sick. Can I Still Test For Paternity?

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the world are living with a high degree of uncertainty and stress. While the overarching concern is for everyone to stay well, it’s natural to feel anxious. You may be wondering if you’ll return to work if furloughed, when you’ll be able to enjoy life to the fullest again, or how to keep your school-age children safe and occupied at home with schools closed. And for pregnant women, there’s the added worry of accessing proper healthcare at a time when hospitals are overrun. “Can I take a DNA test while sick“ should not be one of your concerns.

Does the Possibility of Getting Sick Impact My Ability to Collect DNA Samples?

Some people are asking, should I get my DNA tested when my risk of getting sick is higher? The good news is that even if you’re already sick and need to get an answer about paternity or a different biological relationship, you can still do so with a home test. Being sick won’t compromise your DNA sample, assuming you collect it carefully following all instructions. With that said, the following unrelated circumstances can affect paternity tests:

• A recent blood transfusion
• A bone marrow transplant
• Some genetic disorders
• Donor skin grafts in the mouth

If you’re pregnant, we understand that the pandemic has likely caused you extra anxiety. If you have doubts about the biological father of your baby, no need to worry. Our non-invasive prenatal paternity test allows you to obtain accurate paternity answers anytime after the seventh week of pregnancy.

Should I Take Extra Safety Precautions When Delivering My DNA Samples Due to Potential Illnesses or Viruses?

Whether you’re well or sick, you should always handle swabs with care and follow the kit instructions to prevent contamination. While swab contamination doesn’t change the results of a paternity test, the lab requires you to collect new samples to send in, which delays results. Read about additional factors that cause contamination and how to prevent this problem.

At DDC facilities, we’re taking extra health precautions during this pandemic. We’ve added more layers of protection for  sample-intake processes to keep our employees and delivery services safe. We’ve also installed self-check health stations and/blog/announcement-covid-19-coronavirus-ddc/ additional sanitizer stations, and we’ve implemented further cleaning procedures multiple times per day.

Is the Ability to Test for Paternity Affected during Periods of Quarantine or Lockdown?

As a long-established and accredited lab-based testing company, DDC has all the necessary tools and processes to continue offering uninterrupted DNA testing during this time. Our DDC team is healthy and focused on mitigating any disruptions in service. We have always and continue to maintain strict protocols to ensure the integrity of all our tests. In addition to our full spectrum of DNA tests, we’re leveraging our 25-year DNA-testing expertise to provide two COVID-19 tests and supplies to medical facilities to help meet the critical needs of our nation.

Get Connected with a Customer Service Team Member

We understand this is a challenging time for individuals and our country. Rest assured, it’s not necessary to add the issue of paternity to your list of reasons for feeling stressed. As always, our dedicated team is committed to helping you find answers to life’s important questions and taking great care to ensure your DNA testing experience is a positive one.

About DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC)

DNA Diagnostic Center is the world leader in paternity and relationship testing. We serve healthcare professionals, government agencies, and individuals around the world to determine family relationships with trusted accuracy.

More Questions? Don’t hesitate to call us: we’re here to help!