How much does a paternity test cost?

Cost can be a big factor when you are considering ordering a paternity test. Here, we answer some of the most common questions relating to the cost of a paternity DNA test.

How much is a paternity test?

A paternity test costs just $129 from AlphaBiolabs’ ISO17025-accredited laboratory. Our paternity tests require a simple cheek swab for DNA collection, with up to 42 DNA markers analyzed for a 100% accurate result. Your secure, confidential results are emailed to you in 3 business days.

Can I get a paternity test for free?

No, paternity testing is not available for free, although some companies may advertise their paternity tests as being free of charge. This can be misleading as although the paternity test might be advertised as free, you will then need to pay a high fee to get your samples processed at the laboratory. Any reputable testing company will hold the correct industry accreditation for paternity testing, meaning that they have been assessed against internationally recognised standards to demonstrate competence and performance capability.

Is paternity testing covered by health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid?

No, paternity testing is not covered by health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.This is because a paternity DNA test is not a medically necessary procedure. Medicare only helps pay for necessary treatments such as an injury, illness, or other medical condition.

What forms of payment does AlphaBiolabs accept?

You can pay for your paternity test online using a credit card, a debit card or PayPal. Please note, we do not accept American Express®.

What type of paternity test do I need?

AlphaBiolabs offers two types of paternity test. A paternity DNA test, used to verify who a child’s biological father is after the baby has been born, and a non-invasive prenatal DNA paternity (NIPP) test, which can be used to verify paternity while the mother is still pregnant.

Both tests are for peace of mind only. As the name implies, this means that the results are for your own information and are not admissible in court.

This is because sample collection for legal DNA tests must follow strict chain of custody conditions, to ensure the DNA samples are collected from the correct people.

The testing procedure for a peace of mind test is still highly accurate and performed in the exact same way as a legal DNA test, but you cannot use the results in a court of law.

If you are pregnant and want to find out who the biological father is before the baby is born, a non-invasive prenatal paternity (NIPP) test is a great option.

A NIPP test is 100% risk free for mom and baby, with no requirement for needles to be inserted into the abdomen to extract DNA samples.

An AlphaBiolabs Prenatal DNA Paternity Test simply requires cheek swabs from mom and the potential father, plus a blood sample from mom.

Mom’s blood sample will need to be drawn by a medical professional, such as a nurse, a phlebotomist or another medical practitioner.

What are the options for my paternity test report?

If you are ordering a peace of mind paternity DNA test from AlphaBiolabs, you have the option to add additional reports.

Additional reports offered by AlphaBiolabs for a paternity DNA test (after the child has been born) are:

• DNA technical data (+$40.00)
• Electropherogram (+$40.00)
• DNA technical data and Electropherogram (+$65.00)
• Hard copy of test results (+$15.00)

If you don’t choose one of our additional reporting options, your secure, confidential results will be sent to the email address you supplied when placing your order. This is included in the price of your test.

DNA technical data

If you have purchased DNA technical data as part of your report, you will also receive all the raw data from your analyzed DNA profile, in table form.

This will include the DNA profiles of each person tested and the likelihood values used to calculate the results. The table will show a comparison of the DNA short tandem repeat (STR) markers shared by the potential father(s) and the child.

STR markers are specific locations on a chromosome, made up of sequences of repeated DNA. The STR markers that AlphaBiolabs examines are highly variable in length between individuals.

Everyone has two copies of each STR marker, known as alleles, with one inherited from the father and one from the mother. The two alleles observed at each marker are compared between the tested individuals. A full match of these alleles between individuals provides evidence of a relationship between them.

Electropherogram

An electropherogram (ETP) is a graphical representation of the DNA profiles of all tested individuals.

A technique known as capillary electrophoresis is used to allow the DNA profiles to be viewed in this way. An example EPG is shown below:

Please note that the option for DNA technical data and/or an Electropherogram is not available when ordering a prenatal DNA paternity test. However, you can still choose to receive a hard copy of your results for an additional $15 if required.

I need a paternity test before my baby is born. How much does a prenatal DNA paternity test cost?

You can purchase a Prenatal DNA Paternity Test from AlphaBiolabs today for $975.

A prenatal paternity test can be performed as early as seven weeks into pregnancy and is 100% risk free for mom and baby, unlike other prenatal paternity tests (e.g. chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis) which carry a small risk of miscarriage.

AlphaBiolabs’ prenatal DNA paternity test only requires a cheek (buccal) swab and a blood sample from the mother (usually from her arm), and a cheek swab from the alleged father.Your secure, confidential results will be emailed to you in 7 to 8 business days from your samples being received at our laboratory.
Order a non-invasive Prenatal Paternity Test online

Last reviewed: 05/09/2023