Paternity Test Market Prices - Your Consumer Checklist

By: Robert Thomson Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Although the price has fallen dramatically over the past few decades, paternity testing has never been a cheap procedure. If you are considering having a paternity test carried out then it's very important that you know what the average prices are for each kind of test, and also what to look out for so that your results are reliable.

At present the cost of a standard paternity test is usually around $150. This price can range from $100 to $250, depending on which laboratory your samples are sent to and which establishment you are dealing with. For these prices you can expect to get buccal swabs (the cotton buds which take the DNA samples) for three people; that is, the mother, potential father and the child. Having the mother's DNA allow the laboratory staff to eradicate that part of the DNA sequence from the child's and concentrate on trying to match up the child's with the potential father's. For this price you should also expect to have results within one fortnight.

Prices do vary hugely if there are unusual circumstances. For instance, if the potential father is deceased or absent and there is no way to obtain a DNA sample then his mother or father can be tested along with the child. This kind of test involves a lot more work on the part of the laboratory staff and therefore it can cost up to 8 times more than a standard test (usually around $700). Other tests that cost a lot are ones which are done on unborn babies (in which case fees can be in excess of $1250) and ones that require fast results. Results can be sent back as early as one day after the samples are submitted, but this usually puts a huge cost onto the existing bill.

In general a home paternity testing kit and results should cost you no more than $200. In many places you will find tests for under $80, but these should be approached with caution as some do not test for at least 13 loci on the chromosome, which is the recommended amount to give accurate results. As with everything, prices range from place to place and region to region, so do research the establishments you consider.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Antonio Selas lives and works in Houston, TX as a freelance writer. His works on subjects ranging from paternal testing to HLA Typing have appeared in major publications all around the country.