A paternity test is conducted to prove paternity, that is, whether a man is the biological father of a child. This may be relevant in view of rights and duties of the father. DNA testing is accepted worldwide as the most accurate method of determining paternity. In Australia it is believed that at least 1 in 5 men who are uncertain about the paternity of their children will have their uncertainty confirmed by paternity DNA testing.

Can maternity testing be done?

Maternity testing can also be carried out. This is less common, because at least during childbirth, except in the case of a pregnancy involving embryo transfer or egg donation, the mother's identity is clearly evident.

For testing, who provides a sample?

For paternity or maternity testing, a sample is required from the alleged father, mother and child or children. For peace of mind testing, the mother's DNA is not necessarily required.

Can testing be arranged throughout Australia?

For peace of mind (non-legal cases), DNA QLD can send a free collection kit to your home for the DNA collection. DNA is collected by swabbing the inside of the mouth and is not painful or difficult to do. Free DNA swab collection kits are sent individually to the mother (if being tested), alleged father and child. For Legal testing, DNA QLD can arrange sample collection from all areas within Australia, Europe, USA,Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Collection kits are sent by trackable courier companies. Brisbane based clients can use our FREE collection facility based in the center of Brisbane. For other areas, collection facilities are coordinated through our affiliations with Gribbles/Davis Campbell de Lambert/GPL and QML pathology collection rooms in Australia. Overseas collections can be facilitated upon request.

What is tested?

DNA testing is done on specific areas on the DNA chain where there are repeated sequences that are individual to each person; these are called ‘short tandem repeats'. A child inherits half its DNA from each parent. Every repeat that is found in the child's DNA must be found in the alleged mother's and father's sample – if not, then it can be determined which parent's DNA matches or does not match. This is proof of parentage to a minimum certainty of 99.9999%, and proof of non-parentage as 100%. Short tandem repeat testing is highly accurate with the chance of misidentification being one in several billion.

Why is testing done?

There are many reasons why a paternity test is requested. Divorce, child custody,and child financial support are the most common reasons with more than one man at the time of ovulation, and become pregnant, and then have uncerrtainty as to is the father of the child.

One of the primary benefits of DNA testing outside of the criminal justice field is to assist women who are seeking financial support for their children. In cases where a man denies that he is the biological father, DNA paternity testing can confirm or exclude a biological relationship and allow the courts to determine whether or not a man is legally responsible for child support payments or can alter the name of a child on a birth certificate. If the testing is required for a Family Law case, please consult your lawyer first.

Men who are seeking custody or visitation rights may avail themselves of the benefits of DNA testing. Again, a DNA paternity test provides crucial confirmation of the existence of a biological relationship between father and child. This confirmation is necessary before awarding custody or visitation rights. Some men merely need to gain peace of mind regarding their relationship to a child. One of the benefits of DNA testing is being able to conclusively establish or exclude a relationship. Adopted children may someday wish to find their biological parents. DNA testing will allow them to confirm the biological relationship between themselves and their possible biological heritage.

What type of sample is needed for the testing?

DNA is collected from cells collected from the inside of the mouth. The mouth swab collection is simple and painless. DNA QLD will mail a kit which contains sterile swabs, collection information, sample containers, and an prepaid postage return envelope.

The sample for legal testing is collected in the same way. However, with legal testing the collection is required to be undertaken by a person authorized by DNA QLD. This could be a doctor or an authorized pathology collector. At the time of collection the identity of the individuals to be tested will need to be verified. Official identity documentation (such a driver's license or passport) and 2 passport size photos of all the individuals will be required for the verification. Under the Family Law act a FORM 2 (Affidavit) must be completed on the day of collection and taken to the collection appointment with proof of ID. The authorised collector collects the mouth swabs and the swabs are security coded in tamper proof containers and submitted to the laboratory.

Paternity can also be tested on prenatal samples. Choroinic Villus (CVS) samples can be collected between 11 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. Amniocentesis samples can be collected between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy and later at some Maternal Fetal Ultrasound units. As with any invasive testing, there is always a risk of miscarrying a pregnancy. Please discuss this with your doctor or DNA QLD. DNA QLD can provide details of Maternal Fetal Ultrasound clinics able to collect paternity samples.

How long before the results are available?

Once the samples have been received at the laboratory, the results will be available in around 5 to 10 working days. DNA QLD aims to have your results back to you as soon as possible. For 95% of our clients, this is within 24-48 hours.We do not charge extra for this service, as we are aware that these results are important to you. Some companies charge an additional fee of over $1400 for the same fast service. Please ask DNA QLD about our turnaround time for your case.

How do I get my results?

All test results will be sent by registered mail to the mother ( if tested) and alleged father. Your results are confidential and no results or information will be given to anyone other than yourself. Results may be sent to your lawyer upon request.

Results are security coded, numbered and printed on official DNA QLD report forms. Our reporting scientists sign these results. No photocopies are ever released; only original copies are accepted as official reports. Results will not be given over the phone. Fax results can only be sent if a written request via Fax has been sent by your legal representative. Results are reported by a scientist accredited by the Family Law Court of Australia.

How do I arrange testing?

You can download the application form from this website or request an application form to be mailed to you. The application form can be returned with the full payment for the testing to DNA QLD, by mail or by fax. If you have any questions please call our office on 1300 1 PATERNITY (1300 1 72837), and we will be able to help you with your application. A DNA collection kit will be mailed to the nominated address on the application form. Once the Legal testing fee is paid, representative from DNA QLD will contact the mother and alleged father to make arrangements for the sample collection and the legal affidavits.

Why is paternity testing cheaper at some laboratories?

DNA QLD uses the latest DNA technology to provide results with 99.9999% accuracy that is fully admissible under the Family Law Courts of Australia. Companies offering less expensive testing on internet sites are often dated gelphase technology that is prone to producing inconclusive results and are far less accurate. DNA QLD proof of parentage is accurate to 99.9999%. If testing was advertised with 99.99% proof of parentage, this would be 100 times less accurate than DNA QLD testing. Many of these companies are not based or have their laboratories in Australia, and therefore the testing is not being done under the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) regulations for the Australian Family Law Courts. Ask a testing facility if they will be testing your samples using PCR/sequencing technology for the most accurate results.

Questions to ask companies advertising paternity testing

Does the company act as a broker or do they have their own laboratory? DNA QLD is a Queensland owned and based testing laboratory and samples are processed in Brisbane and not overseas.

Are they NATA accredited? DNA QLD is accredited by NATA which is the highest standard of accreditation offered in Australia

Do they analyse their samples with a sequencer or do they run a gel? DNA analyses samples using a capillary sequencer, not the cheaper and unreliable gel systems. DNA QLD processes the legal and non-legal samples through the same technology - not so with cheaper testing companie.

Do they use internationally reproducible and recognised paternity kits or do they make‘in house' kits which have no reproducibility? DNA QLD uses commercially validated kits used by the top forensic facilities in the world for all our samples

Are you able to speak to the scientist handling your case or just a call centre operator? yes, we have a scientist to discuss your case in office hours and an on call scientist for after hour inquiries.

Is the company able to offer a referral to a counsellor? DNA QLD has an in- house counsellor and can offer a referral to a Clinical Psychologist

Can I get a rebate/discount on the testing cost?

Unfortunately this is not possible. There is no Medicare rebate applicable to paternity testing. No concessions are available for Health cards, Gold cards or Pensioners as this is a privately operated clinic. Legal Aid offices in each State may be able to assist some clients with the payment. A hyperlink to Queensland Legal Aid is in the Links section.

Can test results be added to Wills?

Some clients have nominated a DNA test to record their genotype as part of their Will and Testament. This measure can prevent individuals not related to a deceased person making claims on an estate.

Why would I consider testing if I am travelling overseas or if I am in a hazardous occupation?

Why would I consider testing if I am travelling overseas or if I am in a hazardous occupation? Clearly, travel to some areas of the world today is hazardous. In particular young travellers to remote areas and those employed in politically may wish to consider DNA profiling before travelling. In the event of an accident determination if an individual was or was not involved in an incident is easier when the DNA profile has been recorded in Australia. We profile to the International Standard ISO 17025 which is the same standard used by Forensic Laboratories worldwide. In the event of an emergency your profile can be sent to any laboratory for verification. DNA profiling in real life is not like the American CSI like shows. In fact, finding an old toothbrush or strands of hair in a hairbrush are unreliable methods of matching DNA, as the samples may be degraded or contaminated. Dental records are often hard to obtain and not as reliable as a DNA profile. Having a record of your unique profile can lessen the stress on relatives if identification is required. This testing is for an identification profile and does not test for predisposition to any genetic diseases. DNA samples are destroyed after testing.

DNA QLD provides DNA genotyping for individuals in hazardous occupations. These include : military service overseas, security services in Afghanistan and Iraq; NGO workers, oil rig employees and travellers to remote areas. Clearly, genotyping can help to identify a body as seen after the tsunamis and other natural disasters. However, knowing a profile can identify that a family member was not at a disaster location or involved in an accident.

Does the laboratory have quality controls?

DNA QLD laboratory is accredited to the highest standard by NATA. DNA QLD's ISO 17025 rating is an internationally recognised standard of quality. DNA QLD also participates in proficiency testing through the College of American Pathologists. This ensures that DNA QLD complies with testing standards standard with the top testing laboratories worldwide.

Who recommends DNA QLD?

DNA QLD is the nominated testing facility for Healthscope Molecular, Gribbles Pathology, GLP, Davies Campbell Lambert, throughout Australia and Asia. DNA QLD is also a provider for QML and numerous Legal firms and Child Support Agencies Australia wide. DNA QLD also assists Legal Aid agencies in Victoria and clients referred from Legal Aid Queensland.

Testimonials from DNA QLD clients

"I just wanted to thank you for the way in which you handled my test last week in a professional and expedient manner. Not quite the result I expected, but all parties know where they stand, and happy and well and it looks as though I'm happily going to be a father of sorts, despite the negative result".

"My thanks to DNA QLD for confirming I am the father of my children. It has given me peace of mind so I can move along with my life".

"I was surprised how quickly the pack was sent to me, and how easy it was to do the test, and how fast the results came back."

"The turn around time was impressive".

"Thank you guys, I realy appreciate the work you did. The staff were great, very friendly. I would recommend your company to others in the same situation".

"The after hours service was prompt and polite".

"The all around time I waited for the test to come back was absolutely great and so precise. The pricing is very cheap for the fact that my daughter will grow up with her father by her side which is priceless".

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Frequently Asked Questions about Paternity and Relationship testing

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