Commonly Asked Questions About Paternity Tests

Paternity tests are a popular and reliable way to determine the biological father of a child. While the process is a reliable and straightforward one, there are several common questions that individuals have when they are thinking about taking a paternity test. 

If you’re considering a paternity test and would like to know more, then we’ve written a really helpful post that answers some of the most common questions people have. Keep reading to learn more, and if you require a paternity test – contact the Summit DNA Ireland team today.

What is a Paternity Test?

Essentially, a paternity test is a type of DNA test used to determine if two individuals have a biological relationship. They are normally performed to determine if a man is the biological father of a child. 

The test is typically done by collecting a sample of DNA from the alleged father and comparing it to the child’s DNA. If the DNA patterns match, it is highly likely that the man is the biological father of the child. 

What Type of Scenarios Require a Paternity Test?

There are many different situations where paternity tests can be used. First of all, a test may be needed when the legal paternity of a child is in question. This is often the case in instances of contested custody or when an individual wishes to establish their legal relationship to a child for inheritance or other legal purposes. 

In addition to this, paternity tests can be required to determine a biological father for medical reasons such as to identify a genetic predisposition to certain diseases. Finally, paternity testing is often used in situations where a man wishes to prove that he is not the biological father of a child such as in cases of false paternity claims.

It’s important to note that not all DNA tests can be used for legal proceedings or changing legal documents. Commonly, home testing kits can only be used to establish a relationship between two or more individuals.

How Long Does it Take to Receive Results?

Once you have completed the paternity test in the comfort and privacy of your own space, and subsequently, posted your samples back to us, then you should normally expect to receive your results in around 5-7 working days. The team at Summit DNA Ireland will email you the results of your DNA test, which can also be posted if needed. 

How Accurate are the Results?

A really common question we get asked is how accurate are the results of a paternity test. The answer to this is that the results of a paternity test are 99.9% accurate. This makes paternity tests a much more reliable way to determine paternity than other forms of testing such as blood tests.