Paternity Test Cost: Prices With & Without Insurance

A paternity test compares DNA from a child and an alleged father to see whether they are biologically related. What you pay depends mostly on one question: do you need the result for your own peace of mind, or for a court, an agency, or another legal purpose? The two kinds of test are collected differently and priced differently.

The figures below come from two providers, DDC and Labcorp DNA. They are the providers' own listed prices, so another lab can charge more or less for the same service.

An at-home test lets you collect samples yourself, usually with a cheek swab, and mail them to the lab. The result is meant for personal knowledge only. Because no neutral third party watches the collection, it generally cannot be used in court or for official records.

A legal test follows a chain of custody. A trained collector verifies identities, takes the samples, and documents every step, so the result can be used where a legal record is needed. That extra process is the main reason legal tests cost more.

• At-home tests cost less, give results for personal use, and rely on samples you collect.
• Legal tests cost more and use documented collection, so the lab can issue results for legal purposes.
• Prenatal tests are a separate category with a much higher price, covered below.

If you are unsure which one you need, ask the court, agency, or attorney involved before you pay for a test. A licensed attorney can tell you what kind of result a legal process will accept.

Labcorp lists a starting price for each type of test. The starting price is the base fee for the service; extra people tested, rush handling, or collection-site fees can add to it.

Labcorp's at-home and legal prices follow the same pattern as the first table: the legal test costs noticeably more than the at-home kit from the same provider.

A non-invasive prenatal test checks paternity during pregnancy from a blood sample, rather than waiting until after birth. It costs far more than a standard test, as the first table shows.

Eligibility and timing for a prenatal test are medical questions. Talk with your obstetrician or another licensed health care provider about whether it fits your situation.

Labs also test for relationships other than parent and child. These legal tests start higher than a standard paternity test.

Immigration cases often need a legal test with documented collection. Check the agency's requirements first, since some accept results only from approved labs or collection sites.

• Legal or at-home. Documented collection raises the price.
• Number of people tested. Adding a second alleged father or another child can increase the fee.
• Prenatal or after birth.
• Turnaround time. Rush results may cost more.
• Collection fees. A legal test may involve a fee from the site that collects the samples.
• Provider. Labs set their own prices.

Two sources can quote different prices for what seems like the same test. One may list a range that covers several services, while another lists a single starting price. The first table also shows that the same provider has a range for legal tests and a separate chart price for its home test.

Read each label before comparing, and ask for a written quote that includes collection and any added-person fees. When two quotes differ, find out whether one includes the collection appointment and the other leaves it out.

Turnaround is worth asking about too. Providers list standard processing times, and rush options usually carry an extra charge, so a result you need by a court date may cost more than the base price. Order early if a deadline is involved.

None of the provider pages used here describe insurance coverage, so treat a paternity test as an out-of-pocket cost unless a plan states otherwise. Court-ordered testing is a separate situation; the court order or the agency involved may say who pays. A family law attorney or the court clerk can explain how that works in your state.

• Is this a legal or a personal-knowledge test?
• Does the price include sample collection?
• Are there extra fees for another person or a rush result?
• How long does the lab take to report results?
• Will the court or agency accept this lab's report?