Paternity test cost

The cost of a paternity test can vary, so it’s worth considering what’s included in the price before purchasing a test.

Factors to consider when purchasing a test, include:

• Your reasons for ordering the test i.e. for peace of mind or legal matters
• The reputation of the DNA testing company
• Testing accuracy and quality
• Privacy and security
• Speed of the test results

Here, we answer some of the most common questions relating to the cost of a DNA paternity test.

Order a Paternity Test Online

What is the cost of a paternity test?

AlphaBiolabs offers paternity testing from its ISO 17025-accredited laboratory for just €119 + FREE outbound shipping of your test kit.

Further charges may apply if you decide to purchase additional reports when placing your order.

Can I get a paternity test for free?

Paternity testing is not available for free via the public health service (HSE) unless there is a clear medical need (e.g. for the diagnosis or management of a suspected genetic condition).

However, testing laboratories like AlphaBiolabs have made DNA testing more affordable and accessible than ever before. 

Explore our full range of DNA testing services, or contact our friendly, knowledgeable Customer Services team on 01 402 9466 / info@alphabiolabs.ie to discuss your needs.

What type of paternity test do I need?

Before undertaking any type of DNA testing, including paternity testing, you should think about why you need to take the test.

AlphaBiolabs offers two types of DNA paternity test: peace of mind and legal/court-admissible.

As the name suggests, a peace of mind paternity test is purely for your own information and cannot be used in legal proceedings.

If you require a paternity test for legal reasons (e.g. child maintenance or custody disputes), you will need a legal DNA test.

A peace of mind paternity test can be easily purchased online. Full instructions on how to collect your samples and return them to our laboratory are included in your test kit. 

Legal tests may be needed as evidence in court. For these tests, strict chain of custody conditions must be followed, which means that a trained sample collector would need to collect your DNA samples and send them back securely to our laboratory for testing.

Samples for legally-instructed tests can also be collected for free at our walk-in centres.

What are the options for my paternity test report?

While ordering your test from AlphaBiolabs, you have the option to add additional reports, including:

• DNA technical data (+€35.00)
• Electropherogram (+€35.00)
• DNA technical data and Electropherogram (+€60.00)
• Hard copy report (+€15.00)

DNA technical data

If you have purchased DNA technical data as part of your report, you will also receive all the raw data from your analysed DNA profile, in table form.

This will include the DNA profiles of each person tested and the likelihood values used to calculate the results. The table will show a comparison of the DNA short tandem repeat (STR) markers shared by the alleged father(s) and the child.

STR markers are specific locations on a chromosome, made up of sequences of repeated DNA. The STR markers that AlphaBiolabs examines are highly variable in length between individuals.

Everyone has two copies of each STR marker, known as alleles, with one inherited from the father and one from the mother. The two alleles observed at each marker are compared between the tested individuals. A full match of these alleles between individuals provides evidence of a relationship between them.

Electropherogram

An electropherogram (ETP) is a graphical representation of the DNA profiles of all tested individuals.

A technique known as capillary electrophoresis is used to allow the DNA profiles to be viewed in this way. An example EPG is shown below:

In the case of relationship testing, each marker will have two alleles (one from each parent). The DNA markers (alleles) may be the same length and will appear as a single peak (e.g., example 1: D3S1358) or they may be different lengths and they will appear as two separate peaks (e.g., example 2: D1S1656).

I need a paternity test before my baby is born. How much does a prenatal paternity test cost?

Our peace of mind Prenatal Paternity test costs €879 for results in 3-5 business days*.

The cost of the test includes all fees for laboratory testing and analysis, as well as FREE sample collection at our walk-in centres.

Please note: If you require a NIPP test for legal or official matters, you will need a legal prenatal DNA test.

*Following receipt of samples at our laboratory

Order a peace of mind Prenatal Paternity test now

Where can I buy a paternity test?

You can order your peace of mind paternity test or prenatal paternity test online now or by calling our Customer Services team on 01 402 9466.

You can also email info@alphabiolabs.ie for more information.