A prenatal paternity test establishes paternity while pregnant. The DDC Certainty™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test, which uses the SNP microarray method, is the most accurate test available—and ours is the first and only prenatal paternity test accredited by the AABB. Because it’s non-invasive, the test is completely safe for mother and pregnancy.

A main reason to establish paternity while pregnant is to determine the father of a child as early as possible. More complex reasons may include access to legal and social benefits, establishing accurate medical histories, ensuring the biological father is involved in the pregnancy, and perhaps simply to strengthen the family bond, particularly between a father and child.

Results from a prenatal paternity test can be used in court as long as samples were obtained using a chain-of-custody process. Non-legal testing is also an option. Not sure which is right for your unique situation? Give us a call today.

For security reasons, we do not send a copy of your results via email. Instead, a PDF report can be downloaded from your secure online account on our website. We immediately send a notification email to the address on file as soon as the online report is ready to view. For a legal paternity test, all tested parties receive a hard-copy of the report as long as mailing addresses are given in writing.

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 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.

IMPORTANT: Because we test up to 2,000 data-points—instead of the standard 20 for a postnatal test— the report provides a conclusion only and does not include all genetic data.

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.

No; you should not do a home paternity test if you need results for child support, custody, or any other legal reason. Courts do not accept results unless they are from a legal DNA test that maintained a strict chain-of-custody process. If you need results for court, contact one of our specialists for a no-obligation, free consultation.

A paternity test cannot be performed if the alleged father is missing or if he is deceased and no blood card is available from the funeral home. However, other testing options are available in these types of situations. DDC specializes in finding alternative family members to test to determine the true biological father.Other tests include:

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.

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.

You must call the lab directly to set up the test.

Learn the differences between a home paternity test and a legal paternity test >

The chain of custody process is what makes a DDC legal paternity test results legally defensible in courts and other government agencies. It involves three main aspects:

1. The tested parties are properly identified when their samples are collected. (Their government-issued IDs are verified and photocopied.)
2. The DNA samples are collected by a neutral third party—someone who has no personal interest in the outcome of the test (e.g., a hospital, clinic, or laboratory staff person. DDC will coordinate this collection).
3. The samples are tamper-taped, securely packaged at the collection site, and carefully inspected upon receipt for any evidence of tampering.

When these requirements are satisfied and documented, the results are legally defensible. This means that the patients can use them for legal purposes such as child custody, child support, immigration, and more.

This test must be set up directly through DDC. We’re ready to help.

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.

Immigration DNA testing is used to prove a biological relationship between family members when requested by immigration authorities like the USCIS, embassies, or consulates. It helps verify parent-child or other biological relationships for visa or citizenship applications.

DDC has thousands of collection sites across the U.S. and works with U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to facilitate testing. We’ll schedule your appointment at a location convenient for you.

Immigration DNA testing can confirm relationships such as parent-child, siblings, grandparents, or even avuncular (aunt/uncle). The most common are paternity and maternity tests.

Scheduling depends on the embassy or consulate—appointments may occur within days or take several months, depending on local availability.

U.S. immigration tests do not offer online portals. However, you’ll receive a hard-copy report once testing is complete and payment is finalized. Expedited mailing is available.

Depending on the test type, you can either collect your sample at home or visit one of our more than 5,000 testing locations across the U.S. For details, refer to your specific test instructions.

Most relationship tests have results available within 2–3 business days after samples reach our lab. Exact timing may vary depending on the test type.

Yes—if you chose a Legal DNA test, conducted with strict chain-of-custody and onsite collection. Home tests are accurate but not admissible in legal proceedings.

Yes. A grandparent DNA test can help determine paternity by analyzing the genetic relationship between a child and one or both of the alleged father’s parents. While it’s not as direct as a paternity test, it can provide strong evidence, especially when both grandparents are tested.

The mother’s DNA is not required, but including it can make the results more conclusive. Her DNA helps the lab separate the child’s maternal genes from those inherited from the potential father’s side.

An avuncular test is best used when the alleged parent is unavailable for testing and you need to confirm a biological relationship through a sibling of that parent. It’s also useful for verifying extended family connections in paternity or immigration cases.

Bird DNA testing is highly accurate (typically over 99%) when performed by a reputable laboratory using high-quality samples. Accuracy depends on both the sample integrity and the lab’s testing methods. These tests are widely trusted for determining a bird’s sex and, in some cases, identifying species.

DNA is typically collected using a simple and painless hair-pulling method. The sample must include the hair root (follicle), as this is where the DNA is extracted for testing.

Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic condition that causes fluid-filled cysts to form in a cat’s kidneys, potentially leading to kidney failure. It’s most common in Persian and related breeds and can be identified early through DNA testing.

The AOA selected DDC as its official DNA testing partner in 2010 after a rigorous review of multiple laboratories. DDC was chosen for its proven accuracy, integrity, and outstanding customer service. Since then, DDC has processed hundreds of thousands of alpaca DNA tests and continues to exceed expectations. According to the AOA, DDC has shown exceptional dedication to the alpaca community and remains a trusted partner in delivering high-quality testing services.