Legal vs. At-Home Testing
Legal, court-admissible cases require a chain of custody of the sample, which must be drawn from an approved LabCorp collection site. When DNA test results will be used for legal purposes, such as child support, social security, or custody matters, "legal" DNA tests are required. "At-home" DNA tests provide the same information as a legal DNA test; but they are not intended for use in a court of law and are NOT considered court-admissible.
Purchase Test
1. Purchase the DNA Test
Schedule
2. Schedule Collection
Collect Sample
3. Collect sample and ship to a lab for testing
Test Sample
4. The lab tests the sample
Get Results
5. Results are available in 3-5 business days
Purchase Test
1. Purchase the DNA Test
How do New York residents order a legal DNA test?
Legal DNA testing of New York residents can be purchased online. However, it requires an authorized person to make a written request, which is typically in the form of a physician or court order.
The Labcorp difference
Labcorp's premier DNA testing lab dedicated to identity testing has been solving genetic relationship puzzles for more than three decades. Whether your DNA identity testing needs are standard or complex, you can depend on Labcorp to provide fast, affordable and reliable results. Many labs test sixteen or less loci (also known as genetic markers), however Labcorp tests twenty-one loci, which provides a median combined paternity index of greater than one (1) billion to one (1) for standard cases.
DNA paternity testing FAQs
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What is paternity testing?
Paternity testing provides scientific evidence of whether a man can be a child's biological father. Paternity is determined by comparing the child's DNA with the DNA profile of the alleged father.
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Need help choosing Legal vs. At-Home DNA testing?
Learn about the differences between Legal and At-Home DNA testing
Legal DNA tests
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When should I purchase a legal paternity DNA test?
A paternity or maternity test can be used to establish the parenthood of an individual for a court case such as child support, social security, or child custody. The test can also be used to support placing a parent’s name on a birth certificate. Labcorp places the highest emphasis on following legal chain of custody with your sample, so your sample will be valid evidence in a legal setting. We employ the latest technology to provide the most accurate results for you. Our highly accurate tests exclude, on average, 99.99% of non-fathers. We provide safe, secure, and efficient transportation of your samples.
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What kind of sample is tested in legal DNA tests?
The most common sample type is a buccal swab. This sample is collected using a cotton swab that is gently rubbed on the inside of your cheek. Blood samples are also acceptable.
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How do I schedule an apppointment?
After your order is confirmed and payment is processed, a representative will contact you to schedule the specimen collection or you can select to call us instead. We have more than 1,900 Labcorp-operated facilities in the US, and contract with more than 13,000 locations globally. We will work with you to find a convenient location for sample collection. Our office is open to assist you Monday through Friday, 8am – 8pm Eastern.
At-home tests (non-legal)
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When should I purchase a non-legal at-home test?
You want to determine the paternity or maternity of a child but you are not involved in a court matter, you should purchase a non-legal at-home test. If there is any chance the results might be needed for legal purposes, a legal test should be performed. Labcorp uses the same testing technology for both legal and non-legal testing. Non-legal or at-home tests allow for sample collection at your home and do not follow the legal chain-of-custody protocols needed for a legal test. Our highly accurate tests exclude, on average, 99.99% of non-fathers.
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What kind of sample is tested with at-home test?
A DNA collection kit will be delivered to you. The kit will contain 4 cotton swabs for each person that will be providing their sample for testing. DNA samples can be collected at home by rubbing the cotton swab on the inside of the cheek.
Accreditations
Labcorp, an AABB accredited laboratory, has provided accurate and reliable genetic paternity testing since 1981. Our state of the art testing facilities and scientific experts ensure genetic testing results you can trust.
