What Happens at a Paternity Test Appointment
Going in for a paternity test can feel stressful, especially if it is your first time. Many people feel nervous before the appointment, so knowing what to expect can make the process easier. Paternity testing may be needed for personal answers, child support, custody, or another legal matter. Mobile Drug Screen provides professional paternity testing in a private setting and helps explain each step before the sample is collected. Scheduling a paternity test in Jackson, MS with an experienced local provider can help you feel more prepared from the start.
Preparing for Your Appointment
If some of your stress comes from worrying about how to prepare for your paternity test, the good news is that it requires very little preparation. Unlike other kinds of medical tests, you don’t need to worry about fasting, changing your diet, or avoiding certain activities beforehand. When you schedule your appointment, you will be given instructions on what to bring. Here are the kinds of documents you’ll most likely need to have on hand for your appointment:
- A government-issued photo ID for any adults being tested
- A birth certificate or other kind of ID for the child
- Court paperwork, if the testing is for a legal issue
- Contact information for every person being tested
If you’re not sure what documents you need, it’s always a good idea to ask when scheduling your appointment. All of the requirements can be explained based on your specific situation.
Who Needs to Come to the Appointment?
The only people who need to come to a paternity testing appointment are those who need to have their DNA collected for testing. Any children being tested will need to have a parent or legal guardian with them as well. Generally speaking, only the child and the suspected father need to provide DNA samples. However, a sample from the mother can often make lab testing easier, so it can be a good idea to get samples from both parents.
If your test is being done for legal purposes, there may be additional requirements regarding who needs to be present for the sample collection. For example, the court may order that a witness has to be present when the DNA samples are taken. But in most cases, certified lab technicians are trusted to follow all the right procedures and to protect the samples, so having a third party in the lab during the testing process is very uncommon.
Checking In
When you arrive at your appointment, you’ll need to check in at the front desk. Staff will confirm your appointment, review your paperwork, verify your IDs, and answer any last-minute questions you might have. This should all take a few minutes at most.
For legal testing, verifying your ID might take a little bit longer, because the lab needs to document exactly who provided each DNA sample. Non-legal testing (the kind you receive for your own peace of mind, and not for a court case) usually requires fewer documents to verify your identity. These differences can be explained to you more when you check in, if needed.
Understanding the Testing Process
Before collecting DNA samples, a staff member will likely sit down with you to explain exactly how the rest of the appointment will work. They’ll review which samples are being collected, how they’re being labeled, what happens to them after collection, and when you can expect the test results. This is a good chance for you to ask any questions if something is unclear to you. We deal with this process every day, so our staff members understand that many people come into their appointments feeling nervous or uncertain, and we’re committed to making the process as comfortable as possible for you.
Collecting the DNA Samples
After all of this build-up, you might be surprised by just how quick and easy the DNA collection itself actually is. Most paternity tests use a simple cheek swab, or, more formally, a buccal swab. A trained collector gently rubs a soft swab along the inside of your cheek to collect cells with your DNA. This is done for every person whose DNA needs to be tested. That simple swab provides enough DNA for accurate paternity testing and is quick and comfortable enough to use even on infants. There are no needles or painful procedures involved.
Every swab only takes a few seconds to collect. After the swab is done, each one will be placed into a separate, carefully labeled container to make sure that the samples can be properly matched to the person they were collected from. The entire collection process usually takes less than 10 minutes. In fact, the entire appointment will usually take between 15 and 30 minutes, so it can easily fit into most people’s busy schedules.
Sending Samples to the Lab
Once all the samples are collected, they’re carefully packaged and sent in for DNA analysis. The lab compares specific genetic markers from each sample to look for a match with the suspected father. Modern DNA testing is extremely accurate, as long as the samples are being collected and analyzed by a professional.
Keep in mind that you won’t be getting your results during your collection appointment. The analysis is often done at a separate location, and it does take a little time. We can give you a timeline of when to expect your test results, as well as more information about how to view those results, during your appointment. Those times can vary, but are often ready within a few business days.
Schedule Your Paternity Test Today
If you need a paternity test, Mobile Drug Screen offers a professional, supportive space where you can get your testing done in comfort and privacy. No matter your reasons for needing a paternity test, we’ll ensure that you get the results you need quickly, and with a level of accuracy that gives you total confidence in the results. Contact us today to schedule your paternity test or to learn more about our DNA testing services.