Paternity testing at home with DDC compares the DNA of the alleged father and child to determine the probability of paternity with over 99.999% accuracy. Your kit arrives in discreet packaging with everything you need to collect samples in minutes — no appointment, no clinic visit, no waiting room. Call our DNA specialists for a free, no-obligation consultation, and we’ll help you choose the right test for your situation.
Paternity Testing at Home
Uncertainty about paternity is emotionally difficult — and you deserve clear answers. Get accurate, confidential at-home paternity testing from DDC, with PhD-reviewed results in 1–2 business days.
Discreet
Convenient
Over 99.99% Accurate
Affordable
Why Choose DDC for Home Paternity Testing
- Simple at-home sample collection — no appointment required
- Easy prepaid return mailer included
- Secure results within 1–2 business days
- Results reviewed by DDC’s in-house team of PhDs
For information on home paternity testing in the state of New York, read more here.
What You Get With DDC At Home Paternity Testing
- Results in 1–2 Business Days Once all samples arrive at the lab.
- PhD-Reviewed Results Our in-house experts ensure accuracy.
- Team Support Stay informed every step of the way.
DNA Testing With Reputable Accreditations
Accreditations apply to legal DNA tests under scope.
Best DNA Testing Options
Results in 1-2 Business Days
Once all samples arrive at the lab.
PhD-Reviewed Results
Our in-house experts ensure accuracy.
Team Support
Stay informed every step of the way.
Over 30 years of Experience in DNA Relationship Testing
For decades, customers have trusted us with over 20 million DNA tests. Our expert laboratory technicians ensure your home paternity test results are accurate for the samples provided.
AABB-Accredited
First and only test accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies.
American Pregnancy Association
The only test endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association.
30 Years
Over 30 years of experience in DNA relationship testing.
Order Your Paternity Test Today
Ready to get started with paternity testing at home? Our DNA specialists are standing by to answer your questions, walk you through the process, and ship your kit in discreet packaging, usually the same business day.
Four Easy Steps to Get the Answers You Need
Give Us a Call
To order your at-home paternity testing kit, give us a call. We’ll send a complete test kit right to your doorstep in discreet packaging. Not sure if you need a home paternity test or a legal paternity test? Call our experts for a no-obligation consultation.
Collect the DNA Sample(s)
It is quick and easy to collect a DNA sample using a simple buccal (cheek) swab. You can use the prepaid envelope included in your at-home paternity test kit to submit your DNA, or you can send it via first-class USPS or courier service.
Your Test is Carefully Processed
Our laboratory technicians carefully handle and prepare your DNA samples for processing. Every DDC paternity test that utilizes buccal (cheek) swab samples is run two separate times by independent teams. The results are then reviewed by our in-house team of PhDs and your report is prepared.
Receive Your Results Online
Once testing is complete, typically within 1-2 days, we’ll send you an email — just log in to our secure website to view your results. Home paternity test results are completely confidential, and your private genetic information is never shared with or sold to outside parties. See our privacy policy here.
We Are Your DNA Test Experts
When you choose an industry leader like DDC for your paternity test, you can rely on the results. For decades, customers have trusted us with over 20 million DNA tests. DDC performs thousands of at-home paternity tests each year, in addition to:
Expert laboratory technicians at DDC ensure your at-home paternity test results are accurate for the samples provided.
Home Paternity Testing vs. Legal Paternity Testing: Which Do You Need?
The key difference between home paternity testing and legal paternity testing is how samples are collected and how results can be used. At-home paternity testing is ideal for personal knowledge, peace of mind, and family conversations. Results are just as accurate in the lab, but cannot be used in court because samples are self-collected without chain-of-custody verification.
If you need results for child support, custody, immigration, Social Security, or to add a name to a birth certificate, you’ll need our legal paternity test, which uses supervised sample collection. Not sure which one fits your situation? Call our DNA specialists at 1.800.681.7162 for a free consultation.
FAQ About At-Home Paternity DNA Tests
How does paternity testing at home work?
Paternity testing at home is simple. You order a kit by phone, we ship it in discreet packaging, and you collect DNA using painless cheek swabs from the alleged father and child (the mother is optional but recommended for the strongest result). You mail the swabs back in the prepaid envelope, our AABB-accredited lab processes the samples, and you receive PhD-reviewed results through our secure online portal in 1–2 business days.
How accurate is at-home paternity testing?
DDC's at-home paternity testing is over 99.999% accurate for inclusions (proving paternity) and 100% accurate for exclusions (ruling out paternity). The lab process is identical to our legal paternity test — the only difference is how samples are collected. As long as the samples you provide are from the correct individuals, the result is just as reliable as any court-admissible test.
Can you use results from at-home paternity tests for legal reasons?
Results from a home paternity test cannot be used as proof of paternity for legal reasons such as child support, custody, or Social Security. At-home results cannot be used because the DNA sample is collected by the test participants themselves. This means the chain-of-custody protocol cannot be followed, and the identities of tested parties cannot be independently verified.
Are results for an at-home paternity test just as accurate as for a legal one?
Yes. Results for a home paternity test are just as accurate as they are for a legal paternity test. In fact, once DNA samples arrive at the lab, the testing process is exactly the same for a home test as for a legal one.
You can be certain your results for a home paternity test are accurate for the samples we are provided, but remember the results are just for peace of mind and personal knowledge only. If you need results for court or think you may in the future, call us.
What if the cheek swabs seem too wet to put in the paper sample envelopes?
Cheek-swab samples are not the same as saliva samples, so we recommend that customers swab for a full 30 seconds per swab while ensuring they avoid the saliva-rich gum areas. If samples seem "too wet" once swabbing is complete, just wave the swab in the air for 1–2 minutes before placing it in the paper sample envelope.
Do names appear on the at-home paternity test report?
DDC does not put names on the home paternity test report, since the identities of the test participants have not been independently confirmed. Names of participants are requested on sample envelopes for internal tracking and communication purposes only.
If you want a report with named sample providers, you may want to choose a legal paternity test instead. We cannot add names to a home paternity test upon request.
What types of samples do you accept for home paternity testing?
Cheek swab samples are the industry standard for an at-home paternity test. Cheek swabs make DNA extraction by our laboratory's robotic systems easy, which is one way to keep costs lower for our customers.
In certain scenarios, you can also opt to submit an "unusual" sample such as a toothbrush, ear wax on swabs, fingernail clippings, and more. If you have any questions regarding sample viability, call us directly to talk to one of our experts.
