Our paternity and DNA testing guide has been provided by Cellmark, the UK’s most experienced and recommended DNA paternity testing service. Established in 1987 Cellmark is accredited by the UK Ministry of Justice and, with over 20 years of specialist DNA paternity testing is one of the largest and most trusted paternity testing providers in Europe. For further information, or to discuss any issues surrounding DNA Paternity Testing please contact Cellmark's friendly and professional customer services team on 08000 362 522 or go online at www.cellmark.co.uk.
Your DNA test results
Once your samples have reached the laboratory the DNA testing process can begin. You should expect to receive a report on your test results within 3-5 working days.
Reports from ethical companies will include a covering letter which confirms their data protection policy :-
"Please note that unless you instruct us otherwise we will destroy the samples three months after the date of this report and any paper and computer records relating to the test will be destroyed after twelve months. It is important that you keep your copy of this report safe."
The wording of the report needs to comply with the Family Law Reform Act 1969 so that DNA Paternity Test reports can be accepted and used in court proceedings. An ethical and accredited tester like Cellmark will supply reports to the appropriate standards.
The report will either exclude a man from paternity or will provide conclusive evidence that he is the father of the child. If for example a child (Mary Jones*), her mother and her alleged father (James Smith) were tested, the report would be worded as follows:
A positive paternity result
Probability of paternity 99.9999%
Combined paternity index of 1,000,000 to 1
The putative father, James Smith is not excluded from the paternity of Mary Jones. The results obtained are consistent with James Smith being the biological father of Mary Jones and are one million times** more likely if James Smith is the father of Mary Jones than if they are unrelated.
The probability of paternity given the DNA evidence is at least 99.9999% compared to an untested random man of the UK population.
A negative paternity result
The DNA tests exclude paternity. James Smith cannot be the father of Mary Jones as he lacks the genetic markers that must have been inherited by the child from the biological father.
*Please note the names used above are for example purposes only.
**The actual figures quoted in the report will vary from case to case.
Get a quote for DNA testing/paternity test
If you would like a quote for DNA testing/a paternity test, or further information on DNA tests, from up to three providers of DNA testing services in the UK
Complete the DNA testing enquiry form....
