What is compared
A child inherits half of their DNA markers from each biological parent. A paternity test checks whether the tested man supplies the markers the child did not inherit from the mother.
Does the mother need to test?
Not always, but including her strengthens the analysis and helps resolve ambiguous marker patterns. Where the mother is unavailable, testing can still proceed with the child and alleged father.
Personal versus legal
A personal test answers the question for the family. A legal test uses identity-verified collection with documented chain of custody so the report can be presented to an institution.
Turnaround
Timelines depend on the collection route and the accredited laboratory partner handling the analysis. We confirm the current estimate before you commit.
General information only; not legal advice.