Free DNA Paternity Testing

What Is DNA Paternity Testing?

Paternity means the state of being a father. Currently, DNA paternity testing, free or paid for, can determine who the father of a child is with almost 100 percent absolute certainty. In past years, DNA testing has improved so much and is so reliable that it’s considered court worthy when a judge is deciding cases related to paternity, guardianship, and monetary requirements of a birth father.

How DNA testing works is a long, complicated story. Basically, each human on the planet has one unique set of DNA – this DNA set is an offset from the unique patterns of parent DNA, which is how paternity is able to be sorted out. The only time DNA is not unique is among identical twins or other identical multiples (like triplets). You can conduct paternity testing either during pregnancy or after the baby arrives.

To see an in-depth DNA testing explanation, visit Understanding Genetics.

Why People Need DNA Paternity Tests

There are many reasons why one might need to establish paternity.

• To allow a child access to their health history: In case of an inherited health problem, it’s useful for health care providers to know both maternal and paternal health history.
• To provide financial benefits to a child: This could be child support, insurance money, inheritances, social security, health care insurance, and any other related financial gains.
• To establish identity and a history: Some people are stressed by not knowing their family history; paternity testing is one way to help solve this issue.
• In order to be eligible for public assistance: Not all, but some public assistance requires paternity and maternity information.
• For claiming paternity leave rights.
• To offer a birth father rights: If a mother is against a father seeing his children, paternity testing is usually one step used to solve the issue – paternity grants some rights to a father.

Free DNA paternity testing can also be used to disprove paternity. This process is usually called "challenging paternity".

The Difference Between Paid for and Free DNA Paternity Testing

There’s no difference between a paid and free paternity test. As long as the company is reputable, the results should be the same whether free or paid for. A paternity DNA test can be done with a blood test or less painfully with what’s called a buccal swab. A buccal swab takes DNA by using a small swab with a Dacron or sponge tip that's rubbed inside the cheek. Other tissues can be used to gain DNA information as well, but buccal cells and blood tests are the most common.

The only major difference between any sort of DNA testing is if you buy a self administered at-home DNA kit. The result may actually be as reliable as a lab administered test, however, the results won’t be considered trial or court worthy. The reason is that anyone can mess with a DNA test at home and sign an incorrect name to the sample. A home DNA test is sometimes called a personal paternity test. Whether you pay for a personal test or not, it won’t hold up in a court of law.

Where to Find Free Paternity Testing

If you need a legal paternity test, it’s best to stay clear of tests you find at a store or on a website; in most cases these won’t be free anyhow, and they certainly won’t be up to legal standards.

If you need legal, accurate, and free DNA paternity testing, your best bet is to first ask your primary health care provider or talk with the Office of Support Enforcement in your state. Both of these resources should be able to tell you where you can have free DNA testing done. Most states have at least a few agencies offering free or low cost testing sites.

Sometimes, you may see a special advertised for free DNA tests. A few years back, one lab was offering free testing for Father’s Day. If you want to take up a deal like this, it’s most likely okay. However, one thing to check is that the lab completing the test is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). Accreditation ensures that you’re getting the test done by trained staff and that the test is completed to a certain scientific standard.