The Best Paternity Tests

Wednesday, January 15th

2025 Paternity Test Reviews

AlphaBiolabs

• Cost: Starting at $109 for a post-natal DNA test, $795 for a pre-natal DNA test
• Legal DNA tests that are AABB-accredited and court-admissible available upon request (starting at $279)
• Free standard First Class shipping
• Offers alternate collection methods (like toothbrush and nail samples) for an extra fee
• Tests 25-45 DNA markers
• ISO 17025-accredited laboratory, certified to ISO 9001
• Results within 3 business days after lab receives samples
• Secure, password-protected results sent via email
• In business since 2004
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Hundreds of 5-star reviews

Orlando-based AlphaBiolabs has been in business for over two decades. Their management and analytical teams have a combined experience of more than a century in the DNA testing industry; their laboratory is ISO 17025-accredited and certified to ISO 9001.

Affordably-priced at-home testing

AlphaBiolabs makes it really hassle-free to get the exact paternity testing you need. Let's start by taking a look at the basic DNA Paternity Test. The starting price is $109, which includes free standard First Class shipping via USPS. As you scroll down the page for this test, you can use the dropdowns to quickly indicate how many children are being tested (up to 5), how many potential fathers (also up to 5), and whether you'd like the standard 25-marker test or the enhanced 45-marker test. The cost for each choice is clearly displayed, so you won't have any sticker shock at checkout.

Get as technical as you want

Those aren't the only extras you have to consider with this testing facility, but fortunately they're all optional. These include a $40 fee for the DNA technical data sheet (with the profiles of each person tested), $40 for the electropherogram (the graphical representation of the DNA profile), $65 for a bundled package of the DNA technical data sheet and the electropherogram, and $15 if you opt for a hard copy report of your DNA results.

Prenatal testing + free gender test on request

You've also got the option of prenatal paternity testing with AlphaBiolabs. (It even comes with a free prenatal gender test, if you like.) This testing can be done as early as 7 weeks into the pregnancy, and it's safe and non-invasive. It requires two mouth swabs done by the potential father (or fathers; up to 4 can be tested) and the mother, but the mother's testing also involves a blood sample drawn by a medical professional. It's up to you if you'd like AlphaBiolabs to make the arrangements for the blood draw or arrange it yourself, but the company recommends that all testing and swabbing be completed and submitted around the same time, so that the samples are roughly the same "age”. This test starts at $795, and results will be delivered via email within 7 business days of receiving all of the samples.

Call for a quote on legal paternity testing

Do you need a court-admissible paternity test? AlphaBiolabs can definitely get that done for you, but you'll need to call for a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation with one of their advisors to get it set up. That's an extra step you won't see with some of this testing company's rivals, but we don't think it's a bad thing to make sure you're getting what you need (and not paying for anything you don't). The starting price for a legal DNA test at AlphaBiolabs is $279, and all of their court-admissible tests are AABB accredited.

Can use toothbrush or nail clippings as a sample

Beyond the traditional cheek swab, AlphaBiolabs also lets you use alternate collection methods for your paternity testing, for an additional fee. Either the Nail Clipping or the Toothbrush DNA Tests will be an extra $49 (on top of the paternity test cost). They'll try to extract a DNA profile from the sample you send in, and then proceed with the paternity testing. If they're unsuccessful in the extraction, you'll get a refund for the paternity test (but not for the Clipping/Toothbrush Test fees).

Read the FAQs for more helpful info

Regardless of the type of paternity testing and collection methods you ultimately select, be sure to check out the FAQs at the bottom of the page. If you're wondering if you can have kits sent to two different addresses (maybe the child and the alleged father don't live in the same state?), how the samples will be collected, or what's included, you'll find all of that and more right there.

Helpful customer service

If you have any questions about AlphaBiolabs' paternity testing, you can reach their customer support via phone, email, or live chat on the website. If you opt for the phone call, rest assured that all of their representatives speak both English and Spanish if that's something you need. When we called and didn't reach a rep, we were pleased that AlphaBiolabs reached out based on our "missed call” alone, and we were able to get all of our questions answered (like confirming that this paternity testing company doesn't use Labcorp for any processing of samples, unlike some rival services we evaluated).

Clients praise this service

AlphaBiolabs is "A+” rated and accredited by the Better Business Bureau, with just two complaints filed there in the last three years. While the only Trustpilot reviews we found for AlphaBiolabs were from their counterpart in the UK, we think it's a great sign that the average there was 4.4 stars out of 5, spanning over 1,000 ratings. Checking out the feedback on a site that lets consumers provide reviews for DNA testing options, we were really excited to see over 300 5-star reviews for AlphaBiolabs' paternity testing, most of which said there were zero unpleasant surprises at any part of the process. We also found 50 5-star reviews for AlphaBiolabs' prenatal paternity testing specifically, saying that the whole experience was smooth and safe, and that the results came much more quickly than anticipated.

#1 pick for all types of paternity testing

We enthusiastically recommend using AlphaBiolabs for your paternity testing. They not only offer both main testing types (pre- and post-natal), but they give you multiple alternatives for collecting samples. It's super-easy to scale your testing for as many children and/or alleged fathers as you need to test, samples are processed quickly and results are delivered ASAP, and you've got access to US-based customer support if you have any questions before or after testing. AlphaBiolabs is the obvious first-place choice for paternity testing.

EasyDNA

• Cost: $109 (on sale from regular price of $130) for Home Paternity Test (21 markers)
• Legal Paternity Testing starting at $279
• Immigration DNA Test pricing by quote only
• Prenatal Paternity Test starting at $1,295
• Wide range of alternative collection samples possible (beyond cheek swab) for an extra fee, starting at $80 (in addition to the cost of the paternity test)
• Price includes free shipping
• Results in 3-5 working days
• Mother can be tested free of charge
• Hundreds of 5-star reviews
• "A+” rated by the BBB
• In business for over 15 years

EasyDNA is an international DNA testing company that offers a wide range of genetic testing services, including paternity tests, health and wellness tests, and ancestry tests. Founded in 2006, EasyDNA has grown to serve clients in over 25 countries, emphasizing reliability and confidentiality across the 300,000 tests conducted in the last 10 years alone. The company prides itself on using accredited laboratories that adhere to stringent quality standards, ensuring accurate and dependable results. EasyDNA aims to make DNA testing accessible and straightforward for both personal and legal purposes, providing support and guidance throughout the testing process.

Widest range of paternity tests on the market

EasyDNA offers pretty much every single kind of paternity testing on the market. "There's more than one kind?” we can hear you saying. Yes! Let's take a look at what's available here, so you can decide which one is the right fit for your situation:1

• Home Paternity Test: this is the basic at-home test that you'll find with most services that offer paternity testing. It's an easy-to-use at-home kit that comes straight to your door, has you collect a cheek swab from each person being tested, and you'll get results via email within 3-5 business days after EasyDNA's lab receives the samples. It tests 21 markers (on the lower side compared with some rivals, FYI) and the mother's sample can be analyzed for free. Pricing for one alleged father and one child starts at $109 for this test, but you can request kits to cover up to 3 children and 3 fathers (with an extra $100 per person being tested). If your kits need to go to two different addresses, you'll specify that in the dropdown boxes (but it'll cost an extra $45 domestic or $75 international for shipping).
• Legal Paternity Test: if you need court-admissible results (for child support or custody cases), you'll choose this test. Pricing starts at $279 for one child and one alleged father. We appreciate the details that EasyDNA goes into, to explain how the chain of custody is demonstrated and protected: in the US, you can choose an unrelated third party sample collector of your choice (like your child's pediatrician or your PCP) or have EasyDNA make arrangements with a professional DNA sample collector. The rest of the details are the same as the Home Paternity Test, from the surcharges for testing up to 3 children/fathers to the timeframe you'll wait to get the results.
• Immigration Paternity Test: you'll have to call EasyDNA for a quote on this one, but it's the paternity test you need if you have to prove a biological relationship between an alleged father and child for filing supporting documentation with USCIS. EasyDNA's service is approved by INS/DHS, and they've worked with US Embassies in 32 countries and counting. Expect pricing to start at $499, minimum.
• Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test: we'll tell you straight off that EasyDNA is one of the most expensive options for this kind of test, coming in at a starting price of $1195 (compared with at least one other lab that does it for $795; that lab also offers the test starting at 7 weeks gestation instead of EasyDNA's 9-week mark, FYI). However, EasyDNA helpfully allows you to pay a 50% deposit on the test if you need to break it up into multiple payments. This paternity testing uses Next Generation Sequencing technology to analyze 2688 genetic markers in the cell-free fetal DNA found in the mother's blood, making it much lower-risk than amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. But, be aware that you won't be eligible for this type of testing if it's a twin/multiple pregnancy, if it's the result of IVF, if the alleged fathers are close blood relatives, or if the mother has cancer, pre-eclampsia, or transplants involving bone marrow, organs, stem cells, or blood transfusion. Results come within 5-7 business days.
• Surrogacy DNA Test: if you've had a child through a surrogacy arrangement, this test can prove a biological relationship between the child and the commissioning parent, establish that the correct embryo was implanted, or that the sperm from the intended father was the one used in your particular type of Assisted Reproductive Technology. You'll have to contact EasyDNA for a price quote and more details.

Goes WAY beyond cheek swabs if needed

But, wait! There's one more! We were fascinated by everything we found under EasyDNA's "Forensic Test” section. Your first hint that things are going to get interesting is that the URL for that part of the website includes the word "discreet”. This is where you'll go if you need a paternity test but don't necessarily have the ability to get a cheek swab from the alleged father.

Can handle lots of DNA sources

What kinds of source samples can EasyDNA use? The better question is "What CAN'T they use?” There are some very specific packaging and shipping instructions for each kind that you'll need to be aware of, and pricing starts at $80 for the DNA extraction process (which is in addition to the cost of the paternity testing process itself). But, just for fun, here are just a few of the materials EasyDNA can accept for testing:

• Blood stains on fabric/bandages/tissues
• Nail clippings
• Semen
• Hair with roots
• Razors (electric or disposable)
• Cigarette butts
• Chewing gum
• Toothbrush
• Bones/teeth (requires a consultation first... go figure)

Top-notch reputation

EasyDNA has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, with just 5 complaints filed there over the last three years (and most were related to shipping issues, which the company resolved to the customers' satisfaction). In other places we looked, compliments abound for EasyDNA's paternity testing. Clients said they were treated with confidentiality and compassion, results came in quickly, and every step of the process went as expected.

More expensive but worth it

EasyDNA is one of the most thorough options on the market for paternity testing, in all its many varieties (and some we didn't even know existed). While you'll likely pay more for your test here than with some competitor sites, you can count on the testing to be done appropriately and the results to be accurate. We give EasyDNA a near-perfect score.

My Forever DNA

• Cost: $139 to test 1 alleged father and 1 child, $219 for 1 father + 2 children, $299 for 1 father + 3 children, $379 for 1 father + 4 children (At-Home Test)
• Paternity + maternity test available for $219
• Call for pricing on legally binding chain-of-custody tests (conducted at 3500 partner collection facilities nationwide)
• Tests 24 or 46 markers
• Fees include shipping
• Can also buy a "secret” DNA test with a "discreet” sample for $239
• Results in 1-3 business days
• Lab is AABB-accredited
• "A-” rated and accredited by the BBB

My Forever DNA, founded by Jolene Olivo over 10 years ago, offers personalized and reliable DNA testing services. Jolene's journey began in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Riverdale, Georgia, inspiring her to pursue a degree in Biology and Healthcare Management at Bellevue University. With a background at Quest Diagnostics and managing a Specialty Lab Clinic, Jolene gained extensive experience in DNA testing, including paternity, maternity, and grandparent testing. Combining her hands-on expertise and commitment to exceptional customer service, Jolene established My Forever DNA to provide accessible and trustworthy DNA testing solutions.

Offers most types of paternity tests

You've got 4 basic types of paternity testing to choose from with My Forever DNA:

• Complete Home DNA Test Kit, priced from $139 to $379: this is your gold standard paternity testing set-up, with the price range reflecting the number of children you would like to test (from 1-4). This test analyzes 24 genetic markers, and you'll get your results via email or US mail within 1-3 business days after your samples are received by the lab.
• Paternity + Maternity Home DNA Test Kit, priced at $219: this is the DNA test for anyone in doubt as to both parents' biological connection to a child. It's most commonly used in situations of IVF or gestational surrogacy, or even when a hospital switch-up is suspected.
• "Secret/Private” Paternity DNA Test Kit, priced at $239: if you don't think you can get a cheek swab from the alleged father, but you have access to an alternative sample (like a toothbrush, hair, nail clippings, or a razor), you're in the right place with this test. Processing takes a little longer, first to make the attempt to extract the DNA from the sample and then to analyze the results, so expect the information within 7-10 business days.
• Legally-Binding: this one isn't shown on the main paternity testing page, but you can find it through the dropdowns at the top of the site. Pricing is quote-based, so you'll have to give them a call to find out what your fees would be. In order to demonstrate a chain-of-custody that will be accepted in court, My Forever DNA will send you to one of their 3500 in-person collection facilities throughout the US. This paternity test analyzes up to 46 genetic markers, with results emailed within 1-3 business days and 7-10 business days for the notarized copy via US mail.

Exceptionally compassionate customer service

One area where My Forever DNA really excels is in customer service. It's pretty rare to find tons of comments praising the personalized, compassionate attention from a paternity testing company, but this one can brag about it. (You can also go over to Facebook and check out the reviews.) It's a breath of fresh air to see a service that responds when clients reach out with questions or concerns, especially given how emotionally charged this particular topic can be. "You are not just a number, you are a person with a highly sensitive situation that needs to be dealt with the utmost respect” is how My Forever DNA puts it, and we couldn't agree more.

"A+” from the BBB

Add that to the "A-” the Better Business Bureau gives My Forever DNA, and the "A+” the BBB offers the company's processing lab (Universal Forensics Corporation), and it's easy to see why we're fans of this company.

Phenomenal choice if you need extra attention

My Forever DNA comes in at a rock-solid rating from us. Although they're missing one common type of paternity testing (prenatal), the company's commitment to both accuracy and excellent customer service more than makes up for it in our book. If having some personalized attention (maybe even a little bit of hand-holding) would make it easier to get through this challenging time, My Forever DNA will be your best fit for paternity testing.

PaternityLab

• Cost: $99 for Home Paternity Test, $300 for Immigration or Legal DNA Test (1 child + 1 father + 1 mother if desired), $798 for Prenatal Paternity Test
• Free shipping on all orders
• 3 different types of specimens allowed: cheek swab, toothbrush, nail clippings
• Lab is CAP- and CLIA-certified
• Partner lab for legal/immigration tests is AABB-accredited
• "A” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Over 1,000 5-star reviews

Houston-based PaternityLab works hard to make DNA testing accessible and understandable, while delivering results in a way that blends confidentiality and compassion. Their in-house labs are CAP- and CLIA-certified, and this is one of only two paternity testing companies we know of that even tells you about their scientists in charge. (Just go to the Laboratory dropdown if you want PaternityLab to show you the receipts.)

Many different paternity tests available

As you would hope - from a company literally named "PaternityLab” - this service offers all of the types of paternity testing you could need (all with shipping included in the price). There are tons of helpful details included in the FAQ page for each testing type, and we encourage you to give them a read. But, to give you a basic idea of what to expect, here's a brief intro to each paternity test offered by PaternityLab:

• Home Paternity Test Kit ($99): tests 21 genetic markers with a cheek swab. Each additional person to be tested is $49.50; you can add up to 10 children and 10 alleged fathers, or add the alleged mother if desired. Results come in 1-2 business days.
• Prenatal Paternity Test ($798): can be done as early as 7 weeks post-conception, using a cheek swab from the alleged father and a blood draw done at one of PaternityLab's authorized partner facilities or with a no-cost, in-home draw coordinated by PaternityLab. Results are delivered within 5-7 business days.
• Immigration/Legal Test ($300): this is the test you should choose if you need an ironclad chain-of-custody paternity test. You can add additional individuals for testing at $150 per person. The one downside to using PaternityLab for legal or immigration paternity testing is that they don't process those samples in-house. Instead, they send individuals being tested to a Labcorp collection site, and then Labcorp's AABB-accredited labs process the results. That sounds great, until you read our review of Labcorp and see that the company ranks really low on our list for mishandling samples and results. For reference, the #1 choice on our list does not utilize Labcorp in any way (we called to confirm), so you may want to look at that paternity testing if you're specifically testing for legal/immigration reasons.

Swab, toothbrush, or nail clippings: you decide

We're impressed that PaternityLab allows you to choose from 3 specimen types: cheek swab, toothbrush, or nail clippings. You'll see that in the checkout page of each of their paternity tests. Just be aware that anything other than a cheek swab incurs an extra fee of $50 per individual.

"A” rating from the BBB

PaternityLab's parent company, Analyte Health, has an "A” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, despite having 45 complaints filed and closed over the last 3 years. Almost every single complaint mentioned test kits that never arrived, which isn't a big deal overall, and all of those issues got a response (and a refund).

Over 1,000 5-star reviews

And, outside of the BBB, we found plenty of positive buzz for this paternity testing service. While many of the 1,100+ reviews only mentioned how easy the site was to use (they were asked for feedback based primarily on the ordering process/user experience), we're still glad that PaternityLab averaged 4.9 stars out of 5. Plus, those clients who did reference the testing process said that results came as quickly as promised, reps were easy to reach and knowledgeable in providing answers to questions, and the experience was generally stress-free.

Solid option for most paternity tests

Overall, PaternityLab is a service we'd recommend for most paternity testing needs. Although we have our issues with the Labcorp collaboration on some tests, this company has earned plenty of respect from its clients and a fantastic rating from the Better Business Bureau. You can use PaternityLab to get the answers you're searching for, and we give this paternity testing company a high rating.

DNA Family Check

• Cost: $99 for Home Paternity Test Kit (45% off regular price of $180), $255+ for Legal Paternity Test
• Price includes lab fees, free US shipping on non-legal test kits, and results in 1-5 days
• Can get expert testimony and testimonial letters with court-recognized paternity test
• Testing lab, Genex Diagnostics, is "A-” rated by the BBB

DNA Family Check offers state-of-the-art DNA testing to individuals, government agencies, and legal professionals throughout the US, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. They guarantee your privacy as their labs process your samples and provide your paternity test results.

Basic at-home paternity testing

At first glance, DNA Family Check only offers one kind of paternity testing: the Home Paternity Test Kit, regularly priced at $180 but on sale for $99 at the time of our visit. (We acknowledge that the "sale” may be the everyday price, though.) It lets you test one child and one potential father; if you'd like to test more than one child, there's no easy way to do it other than adding an extra full kit to your cart. Conveniently, however, if the child and father to be tested don't live in the same place, DNA Family Check lets you enter in the comment box where each kit should go for each individual, and the test will be split up and delivered accordingly. The samples are collected with a painless cheek swab (suitable for all ages). Shipping is free each way, and you'll get your results via password-protected online portal within 1-2 business days of the lab receiving your samples.

Legal paternity testing also offered

Just be sure not to overlook the section of the DNA Family Check ordering page that asks, "Need DNA results for court?” We almost missed it ourselves. You'll need to click here if your paternity testing needs to be court-recognized for purposes of custody, child support, or other legal matters. Then click the "Order Legal Paternity Test” button to get the combination you need. Pricing starts at $255 to test one mother/child/alleged father and get results in 3-5 business days, and goes up to 6 children/one alleged father with results in 1-3 business days for $705. You'll also pay $75 per person for professional collection and witnessing services, plus $10 to $25 for shipping and handling fees.

Lab earns high marks

You'll want to know more about the testing laboratory behind DNA Family Check, we presume. Genex Diagnostics is accredited both with the AABB and ISO 17025, and "A-” rated by the Better Business Bureau. The lab conducts each DNA test twice, helping ensure that your results are as accurate as possible. DNA Family Check says that Genex Diagnostics can also provide expert PhD testimony and testimonial letters to help you with any court proceedings, if you've chosen any of their Legal DNA Paternity Testing options.

No feedback from customers

However, we just aren't excited by what DNA Family Check is offering. Other than the testimonials on their own website, there's not much to be seen from customers. We looked all over the place, including sites that rate and rank DNA testing providers (for paternity and other reasons), and there just wasn't any buzz for DNA Family Check or Genex Diagnostics. Plus, the range of testing here is more limited than some rival services (who offer prenatal testing and/or alternate means of collection, like toothbrushes or nail clippings), and it's cumbersome to add extra children for testing with the basic home paternity test.

Just okay

We give DNA Family Check a "just average” rating. Do their paternity tests get the job done? We have every reason to think so, especially given the solid rating from the BBB. But, other providers are doing a better job of providing robust testing options, and we'd recommend checking out the competition before buying a paternity test from DNA Family Check.

Paternity USA

• Price: $115 for At-Home Paternity Test, $195 for Legal DNA test, $325 for Family DNA (if father is unwilling or unavailable)
• Testing also available for Immigration (call for pricing)
• Shipping fees are included
• Partner lab (DDC) is AABB-accredited
• Analyzes up to 46 markers
• All samples are analyzed twice for accuracy
• Nearly 100 5-star reviews

Paternity USA is pretty quick to tell you that their tests are affordable but accurate, trusted to the point that the lab behind their paternity testing has been featured on TV programs like Paternity Court, Maury Povich, and more. They describe their website as their lab's discount portal and compare it to an outlet store, giving you "answers you can trust at prices you can afford”.

Choose from 3 popular paternity tests

You've got several types of paternity tests to choose from at Paternity USA. Here are the three most commonly-used here, all of which include shipping fees in the cost:

• At-Home Paternity Test: priced at $115 you'll be able to test 1 child and 1 alleged father, with results in two business days.
• AABB-Accredited Legal Test: priced at $195 for 2 people (alleged father + 1 child), your kit will be sent to the medical professional of your choice to administer the test and secure the chain-of-custody requirements; you can also get your test administered at one of 3500 network clinic locations nationwide. If you need a legal paternity test done for immigration purposes, you'll need to call Paternity USA for pricing.
• Family DNA: priced at $325 for up to 3 paternal relatives plus the child's mother, this test is used when the father is unwilling or unavailable to be tested.

Analysis of 46 DNA markers (twice)

We were impressed by the fact that Paternity USA's test analyzes up to 46 DNA markers: many rival services only test 16-24, which isn't as accurate. And, speaking of accuracy, every DNA sample is analyzed twice, making the results even more trustworthy.

No BBB listing, but ratings are positive and recent

How about reputation? We weren't able to find a listing with the Better Business Bureau for Paternity USA, a yardstick we like to use to measure the reputation and reliability of paternity testing providers. On the other hand, though, we were reassured to see almost 100 5-star reviews from verified buyers displayed at the bottom of the site. And, unlike some of the companies on our list, these ratings weren't years and years old; we found 5-star ratings literally from the days prior to our review, and that's a great sign. Clients are happy with how quickly the results come in, how easy the paternity tests are to administer, and how smooth the entire experience was from start to finish.

Certificates are outdated

However, there are some aspects to the customer service at Paternity USA that leave us feeling a little less comfortable. First, when we looked at the documentation showing the various lab accreditations and certifications for DDC (the partner lab used by this company), they were all several years out of date. Given that Paternity Lab proudly explains that "accredited laboratories are reinspected bi-annually”, we were left wondering where the more recent certificates are and why they're not displayed on the website.

No one answered the phone

When we called the toll-free number to ask that question, we weren't able to reach a live representative. We tried the extension for placing a new order as well as asking a general question; one told us that no one was available, and the other asked us to leave a voicemail message. That's not quite what we were expecting for a call to a paternity testing company during regular business hours; what if we had been worried about where our samples had gone or how long it would take to get test results?

Room for improvement

For all of these reasons, Paternity USA gets a below-average rating from us. It's disappointing to have a company that doesn't seem to have anyone manning the phones (especially when some services are "call for pricing”), despite the recent, seemingly-satisfied ratings from customers. There's some attention to detail that's lacking with this paternity test provider, and we'd need to see some improvements before we'd trust Paternity USA with a higher rating.

Labcorp

• Cost: $210+ for At-Home Paternity Test, $525+ for Legal Paternity Test
• Tests 21 markers
• AABB-accredited laboratories
• Likely to have a convenient location near you (if required)
• Results delivered via email or USPS for free; can get express hard copy delivery for $25
• Has done paternity testing since 1981

Labcorp, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina, is a leading global life sciences company that provides comprehensive clinical laboratory services. Renowned for its extensive network of laboratories and patient service centers, Labcorp performs over 500,000 tests daily, ranging from routine blood work to complex genomic testing.

2 kinds of paternity testing offered

With respect to paternity testing in particular, Labcorp is a mid-tier option. You can choose between an At-Home kit, with a starting price of $210, or a Legal Paternity Test if you need to prove something in court (with a starting price of $525). If you've done some research into these kinds of tests before, you'll already know a few things. First, Labcorp is more expensive than most competitor tests, by double or more, depending on the rival you're looking at. Second, Labcorp is missing some options, like prenatal paternity testing and alternative sample sources (like toothbrushes or nail clippings). Finally, Labcorp only tests 21 markers: that's about the same as most of the paternity tests we've seen, so it's neither a plus nor a minus here.

Expensive, but worth it?

However, let's consider some of the benefits of using Labcorp for paternity testing, even with the higher cost. As you likely realize, Labcorp has locations just about everywhere in the US, so if you opt for the Legal Paternity Testing that requires samples to be collected under rigorous chain-of-custody controls, it won't be a stretch to figure out where to go. There's also no doubt about the quality of Labcorp's testing facilities, which are AABB-accredited at the very least. And, you won't find too many paternity testing providers who can say that they've been delivering accurate results since 1981 (likely longer than the alleged father or even grandfather has been alive!).

Easy to add more individuals to test

Another plus of working with Labcorp that you'll see as you get a little further into the ordering process is how easy they make it to add more children or potential fathers to the testing kit. With the At-Home test, for example, you can add up to 9 fathers and 15 children. All of those kits ship for free, even though you'll have to pay extra for each person tested, of course.

Get results via mail or email

Finally, Labcorp lets you request your results via email or USPS; the latter usually comes with an extra cost when you look at Labcorp's competitors, so that earns this lab some points. If you're in a hurry, though, you can pay $25 to have your paternity testing results delivered via express mail.

BBB only gives the lab a "C-”

So, with all of that, why has Labcorp landed so low on our list? The company as a whole has a disappointing "C-” from the Better Business Bureau, with over 500 complaints filed in the last three years. We'd expect that number of complaints for a lab that does so many tests every year, but the BBB rating indicates that they're not necessarily satisfied with how Labcorp is operating.

Complaints about paternity tests are shocking

However, the bigger reason behind our own low score for Labcorp is what we saw from customer complaints specifically about paternity testing. Read some of them and weep: "I received someone else's results (their name was on it), and Labcorp refused to accept responsibility or provide a new test.” "They refused to provide the complete chain of custody information.” "I got tested with other men and somehow two of us came back positive as the father.” That's about as far from "peace of mind” paternity testing as you can get!

Too disappointing to choose for paternity tests

We have no choice but to rank Labcorp as a paternity testing option we don't recommend. We would think that having more than 40 years of experience would put them at the forefront of accuracy and reliability, but customer comments indicate otherwise.

Paternity Depot

• Cost: $79 for a paternity test of 1 father + 1 child
• Can order a legal chain of custody document for $50 or order the Court-Admissible Legal Paternity Test for $129
• $20 shipping/handling fee
• Samples processed in Toronto, Canada
• Results in 7-10 days or less

Paternity Depot proudly proclaims that they've got "the #1 Home Paternity Test Kit in America”. True story? We highly doubt it. While you might get excited to see that you can get a paternity test for just $79 if you're testing one alleged father and one child, you'd likely do better to spend a little more with a higher ranked service. Let's get into the reasons why.

$79 for the test and $20 extra for shipping/handling

Straight off the bat, we noticed that the "$79 home paternity test” comes with a $20 shipping and handling fee, putting the total cost at $99. Look at Paternity Depot's rivals and you'll see that most of them include that in the fees, making this service not quite so competitive cost-wise.

DIY testing kits?!

Digging further, Paternity Depot comes off as a service that's not quite as professional as the higher-ranking paternity testing options on our list. First off, this site finally made it clear to us why so many rival sites mentioned how their tests weren't so cheap as to suggest creating one's own testing kit to save money - because Paternity Depot does. (We found those instructions in the FAQ, where it recommends using your own Q-tips and envelopes. What?!)

No info on the lab on the website

Next off, they don't really come out and say which "fully accredited” lab they use for their paternity test processing; the asterisk that ought to indicate further information doesn't line up with anything at the bottom of the page or elsewhere. There are two supposed testimonials there (at the bottom), but one is from someone whose career is listed as "Real State” (we're not sure why the customer's career would be relevant, and we're pretty sure they meant "Real Estate”...).

Not AABB-accredited

So, we made a little phone call to try to find out more. As it turns out, when you order any of the paternity tests from Paternity Depot, your samples will go to their location in New York, and then sent via courier to their lab in Toronto, Canada. And, when we asked, the rep said that no, their labs are not AABB-accredited (a huge red flag for us) which is why they don't offer paternity testing for immigration purposes.

Legal paternity testing isn't well-documented

As long as we had someone from Paternity Depot on the phone, we also verified that with their Legal Paternity Test, they do not have any affiliated locations for collecting those samples in an objective chain-of-custody circumstance. You just have an "objective, unrelated third party” witness the collection and send it in; the rep we spoke with said that many customers use their pediatrician or other medical professional with whom they already have a relationship. That lines up with the weird way that the legal paternity testing is described: in one place on the site, it's a package priced at $129, but in another spot it's mentioned as a $50 add-on letter to the regular test kit. Doesn't exactly inspire confidence, does it?

Zero reputation

At this point, it'll come as no surprise that we had trouble finding any kind of external validation for Paternity Depot. There's no listing with the Better Business Bureau, no third-party reviews, nada. We even tried going to the URL shown as part of the contact email address on the product image for the paternity test kit, but we got that cute standard message from GoDaddy (an ironic result given the kind of testing here!) saying that they're holding the domain. In other words, that site doesn't currently exist.

Don't use these paternity tests

We don't recommend that you use Paternity Depot for your testing needs. Everything about the site screams "sketchy” to us, and we definitely wouldn't feel secure in trusting them with our DNA samples (especially when they can only say they test them in "their own lab in Canada” with no AABB accreditation). With so many higher-ranking providers of paternity testing on the market, you can skip Paternity Depot without a second thought.