info@rapidtestme.com | 908.809.3381 | 1192 Morris Ave., Union, NJ (Map)
RapidTestMe
Paternity Testing FAQ
We offer easy, confidential, legal paternity testing
*Our fees are based on the number of participants tested and include all lab costs.
General Testing Questions
For questions about what to expect, lab pricing, insurance, etc., please read our General FAQ and How it Works pages.
How much does the paternity test cost?
Paternity testing is $350 which includes all lab costs plus the fee for RapidTestMe services - consultation, strict, legal, chain of custody process, buccal swab test, and test results. The price is the same for the father and one child. There is an additional $75 fee if the mother of the child is tested.
Can a paternity test be performed without the mother?
In some cases the mother is not available for testing. The paternity testing can still proceed. A “motherless” test could require more extensive analysis to produce conclusive results, but the results are just as accurate as those of a standard paternity test.
RapidTestMe encourages mothers to participate in paternity testing so they are guaranteed to receive a copy of the test results. We are only able to release results to those tested, their authorized representatives (such as an attorney), or the tested child’s legal custodian. Some courts require the mother to participate in a paternity test.
The price is the same whether the mother participates or not. Non-standard tests, such as the mother not tested, a family study, and extended testing cases may require additional time.
Can I get a paternity test during pregnancy?
We do not offer paternity testing during pregnancy.
Does the mother and potential father have to come in at the same time?
Paternity testing appointments are one hour. The mother and child can come for the first 30 minutes, leave, and then the potential father come in for testing separately. Please let us know in the notes when you schedule your appointment if this is the case. (Testing must be done back-to-back to keep the results together.)
Why do you use both a blood test and a cheek swab?
We use a cheek swab, also known as a buccal swab, to test DNA for all participants. A small swab (like a Q-Tip) is used to scrape the tissue inside of your cheek. It’s this tissue that carries the cells that are then used to perform the DNA test.
Cheek swab test results are highly accurate tests excluding, on average, 99.99% of non-fathers. While the cheek swab is highly accurate, a blood test is used for legal confirmation.
Is a photo required?
For cases intended for immigration, visa, passport, child custody and citizenship, both a photo suitable for positive ID and a legible copy of a government issued photo ID must be submitted for each tested individual.
How long will it take to get the results?
Typically, the test results are available within 5 business days. You can check Labcorp's online portal or we can email or call you with the results, depending on your preferred form of communication.
Are the results of the paternity test admissible in court?
At RapidTestMe, we follow a strict chain of custody process from collection of all DNA samples to submission to LabCorp, an accredited lab for testing. This process is followed to ensure integrity of the sample throughout the process.
DNA tests performed for use in a court case, such as child support or immigration, require this legal chain of custody and testing in an accredited laboratory. The special collection requirements are designed to provide confidence, in a legal setting, that the samples were collected from the correct individuals and that no tampering occurred during the sample collection process and shipment to the testing laboratory.
LabCorp can also provide expert witness testimony in court for an additional fee. Contact LabCorp for more information.
Are the test results confidential?
Yes. Only the mother and the alleged father will be notified of the results.
When is a paternity test necessary?
If you are faced with a situation where you are unsure who the father is, paternity tests can provide much-needed knowledge and peace of mind. Below are a few cases why a paternity test may be necessary.
Child Support - if you are seeking child support and the alleged father denies that he is the child’s father and there is no proof of him being the father, then a paternity test may be requested by the alleged father or ordered by the court. Child support is actually the most common reason for paternity tests.
Child Custody - custody battles are hard, and they become even harder when you have to prove you are the father in order to gain custody of your child(ren). Paternity tests are necessary in cases of child custody when there is uncertainty if the alleged father is the biological father.
Adoption - if you are an individual who was adopted, you may want to learn more about your biological family history and background. Paternity tests may be able to help with this if you are in contact with the alleged father or mother and they are willing to submit a paternity test.
Inheritance - when it comes to inheritance, there can be uncertainty in terms of who is the rightful beneficiary. Unfortunately, there can be disputes within the family regarding biological relationship that may hinder an individual from receiving inheritance. Paternity tests can assist with eliminating uncertainty.
Can you cheat on a DNA paternity test?
DNA paternity testing is the most used method of confirming the biological relationship between a child and an alleged parent. At present, there are two types of DNA paternity test:
- Court Admissible or legal Paternity Test - the collection of the samples is performed by a third party, like RapidTestMe, using a controlled chain of custody procedure with a witness to verify the authenticity of the samples. The RapidTestMe testing system is almost cheat-proof as the DNA samples are taken by a qualified medical professional.
- "At-Home or Peace of mind" DNA test - a DNA testing kit is sent to you and you are responsible for collecting your own samples. Since the parties are responsible for collecting their own samples, this gives rise to the opportunity to cheat on the test. This can be done by the alleged parent submitting a third party DNA sample which will lead to a negative result. They also may try to contaminate the test swabs which will result in the need to retake the test.
What if the mother or alleged father refuses to perform a paternity test?
If the other party refuses to provide a sample under any of the above scenarios, proceed through official legal channels to ‘force’ the other party to participate in the test.
This is of course, the most expensive and time-consuming process and should be entered into as a last resort. In situations such as this, we strongly recommend obtaining legal advice
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Contact Us
Questions? You can email us or complete our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
RapidTestMe
1192 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083 (Map)
908-809-3381
Park in the front right of the building.
Entrance is in the middle of the
building near the road.