The price of DNA paternity testing in the UK can vary according to a number of things, from the complexity of the relationship being determined to whether or not the results will be admissible as evidence in court.
As with any service, the amount you are expected to pay is usually directly related to the quality of the test. A number of self test kits are available to order online at a considerably reduced price, however, these tests are often designed to be used covertly and the results are potentially not as reliable as a government ordered, fully accredited DNA home paternity testing service. Unfortunately, DNA testing is not available for free on the NHS, so when conducting a paternity test some degree of cost will certainly be incurred.
Paternity Testing Cost
The cost of a court ordered paternity test is usually determined by the individual companies who conduct the procedure. A list of these private companies is provided by the court to ensure credibility and as such the cost often runs much higher than personal testing kits which can be ordered online. If the paternity test has been ordered by the Child Support Agency, a private company will be employed to conduct the test on your behalf and the cost is usually around £300.
However, a court order is not necessary to conduct a paternity test and many private healthcare services charge in the region of £100 – £400 for a reliable paternity test in which the DNA of the father, child and mother are included. Additional relationships or circumstances will incur a greater charge as the tests required become more complex.
Whilst private companies usually charge several hundred pounds for a thorough testing service, the process is not inherently covert and the results can be dependent upon the inclusion of the mother’s DNA. Sometimes, paternity testing is a clandestine affair in which the father does not want to voice his concerns openly and so gaining a sample of the mother’s DNA through either blood or saliva can be difficult and unpleasant. As such, there exist many home testing kits which are available to be purchased online and which do not require the DNA of the mother in order to reach a result. Consent should always be obtained from each person participating in the test and the mother’s consent for the child in question may be required, a reputable paternity testing company will be able to advise on consent requirements.
Paternity Testing Accreditation
The testing laboratory is accredited by the AABB and in accordance with the recognised International Standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by A2LA, a signatory to the ILAC arrangement. Click here to view the full list of Signatories to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement which includes The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
Contact GTL now for more information about paternity testing on 0333 300 3130 or email us at info@gtldna.co.uk.