Common Q's

Testing at AccuMolecular

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How soon can we start the testing process?
Are test results kept completely confidential?
What risk does DNA testing pose to the mother and the developing baby?
Can an exact date of conception be determined accurately without a paternity test?
How much does it cost to establish paternity?
Can I use the DNA test results in court?
Who do I call for Paternity Testing?
Is the mother always tested?
How are paternity testing samples collected?
Is the Lab accredited? Are the results reliable?
How does DNA paternity testing work?
Can I do anything to alter the results of the test?
What kinds of samples are needed for DNA testing?
Can hair samples be used for DNA paternity testing?
What if the two possible fathers are related?
Can testing be done if the alleged father is missing or deceased?
Do I need a doctor's order to have a paternity test performed?
How long does it take to get results?
Should I eat or drink before the test?
Are my results legally admissible?
What about confidentiality?
How will I receive my results?
How do I pay for the test?
What if the tested parties live in different cities? Must they go in together for paternity testing?
Isn't blood better than cheek swabs?

How soon can we start the testing process?: DNA testing can be done as early as the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, starting in the 10th week by the CVS procedure.
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Are test results kept completely confidential?: It is a strict policy of AccuMolecular Diagnostics to keep your results completely confidential. For this reason, we do not give results over the phone and verify identification of all those picking up results.
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What risk does DNA testing pose to the mother and the developing baby?: Testing conducted after a baby’s birth involves no known risks. Prenatal DNA testing done in conjunction with other prenatal testing involves some risk associated with how the testing is conducted, whether amniocentesis or CVS. These tests are often discouraged for the sole reason of seeking paternity because of the increased miscarriage risks.
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Can an exact date of conception be determined accurately without a paternity test?: Many women have questions about the date of possible conception, and unfortunately figuring this out is not always so easy. The assumption is that if a woman has pretty regular menstrual cycles, then she will be ovulating during a certain time of the month. Ovulation is the time when conception can take place because that is when an egg is made available.

The problem is that most women do not ovulate on an exact date each month, and many women have a different ovulation day from month to month. If you also take into account that sperm can live in the body 3-5 days after intercourse has taken place, this can make figuring out conception very difficult.

Most doctors use the first day of the last period (LMP) and ultrasound measurements to gage the gestational age of a baby and determine when the baby was conceived. But these are just tools used to estimate the dates—it is very hard for anything to tell what the exact date of conception really is. Most people do not realize that ultrasounds can be off up to 5-7 days in early pregnancy and up to a couple weeks off if the first ultrasounds are done farther into the second trimester or beyond.

Due dates are not an accurate tool for determining conception since they also are only an estimation date (only 5% of women give birth on their due dates).

If you are seeking the estimated date of conception for paternity reasons, and intercourse with two different partners took place within 10 days of each other, we strongly encourage that paternity testing be done; this testing can be done during pregnancy or after the baby is born. This is the only way to accurately know who the father is. Contact us today at at 1-(866)-586-6189 toll free or locally in San Antonio at (210)-767-3951 to schedule your paternity test.
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How much does it cost to establish paternity?: AccuMolecular Diagnostics offers two levels of paternity testing. If you don’t require testing for legal purposes, you can obtain paternity testing for as low as $185. If you require a paternity test for legal purposes, our legal paternity tests are priced as low as $355. The mentioned prices include a standard buccal swab DNA test. Our legal paternity tests include a strict Chain-of-Custody and full cooperation with your attorney.
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Can I use the DNA test results in court?: Yes, we do offer court-approved tests. If you aren't sure if you will need the results for a court case, it is probably worth the extra cost to go ahead and have a court-approved test done. Paternity Testing for Legal Purposes at AccuMolecular Diagnostics are only $355 for a standard buccal swab DNA test.
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Who do I call for Paternity Testing?: AccuMolecular Diagnostics is a leading blood and genetic testing facility based in San Antonio, Texas. AccuMolecular Diagnostics is accredited by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), College of American Pathology (CAP), and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

For more information, please call us at 210-767-3951 from San Antonio, Texas or toll free at 1-(866)586-6189.
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Is the mother always tested?: No, but if she is, the paternity test may take less time and provide for a higher level of certainty. When the mother participates we are able to subtract her contribution to the child's DNA pattern before comparison to the tested man's.
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How are paternity testing samples collected?: Tests collection at AccuMolecular Diagnostics is conducted via a cheek (buccal) swabs. You can order the fully verified legal test which includes chain-of-custody, our informative tests, or our home test depending on your needs and circumstances. Please choose carefully to avoid having to order a retest in the future.
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Is the Lab accredited? Are the results reliable?: AccuMolecular Diagnostics is accredited by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), College of American Pathologists, and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. We meet or exceed the accreditation of most laboratories by receiving accreditation from three agencies. Your paternity test will be processed by highly skilled and trained medical physicians. Our paternity tests are conducted only by a licensed medical physician with the experience to analyze the most difficult of results.
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How does DNA paternity testing work?: DNA analysis, which is a major advance in the field of paternity testing, involves the direct examination of the genetic material that a child inherited from its biological parents. DNA is located throughout the human body and in the same identical form. Thus, DNA in blood is the same as that in skin, cheek lining, muscle, bone, teeth and various other tissues. The DNA a person has is fully established at conception and remains totally constant throughout life. During the paternity testing process, the genetic characteristics of the child are first compared to those of its mother. Those characteristics in the child that cannot be found in the mother have been inherited from the biological father. If the tested man (alleged father) does not have the genetic characteristics necessary to be the biological father of the child, he is excluded. If the tested man's DNA does contain those genetic characteristics, then the probability that this man is the father is established at a high percentage.
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Can I do anything to alter the results of the test?: No, you can not alter the results of a test. Medication, drugs, alcohol, food, age or lifestyle can not alter the DNA pattern within an individual.
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What kinds of samples are needed for DNA testing?: AccuMolecular Diagnostics frequently uses a cheek swab collection (buccal swab) since it is easy to obtain, completely non-invasive, painless, and is just as accurate as blood samples. Almost any biological sample could be used since DNA is located everywhere throughout the body in the same exact form.
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Can hair samples be used for DNA paternity testing?: Yes. However hair samples must have the root follicle intact. For the follicle to remain intact, it generally requires the hair to be pulled directly from the scalp. If this is your preferred method of collection, please contact AccuMolecular Diagnostics at 1-(866)-586-6189 toll free or (210-767-3951 in San Antonio.
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What if the two possible fathers are related?: When possible, both men should be tested at the same time. Relatives have similar DNA patterns, but the laboratory will always perform enough tests to completely resolve the paternity issue. It is important that you inform us of the situation when you schedule your appointment or order a home kit.
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Can testing be done if the alleged father is missing or deceased?: Yes. Other relatives, such as the alleged father's parents, can replace him in the test if necessary. At times, biological samples from a deceased person can be obtained from a hospital or the coroner's office. For additional information, please contact AccuMolecular Diagnostics at 1-(866)-586-6189 toll free or (210)-767-3951 in San Antonio.
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Do I need a doctor's order to have a paternity test performed?: No. A doctor's order is generally not required for you to have a paternity test conducted.

New York residents please note: New York State rules and regulations allows a clinical laboratory to examine specimens only at the request of a licensed physician or other persons authorized by law to use the findings of laboratory examinations in their practice or in the performance of their official duties. We can assist you with this process. Please contact AccuMolecular Diagnostics at 1-(866)-586-6189 toll free or (210)-767-3951 in San Antonio.
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How long does it take to get results?: Paternity testing reports are typically mailed three to four working days following receipt of the samples. Standard processing turnaround is 2-3 days. Rush testing in one day is available at additional cost. Call AccuMolecular Diagnostics at 1-(866)-586-6189 toll free or (210)-767-3951 in San Antonio for more details..
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Should I eat or drink before the test?: Although food consumption will not affect the test, there could possibly be a residue of food left in the mouth which could contaminate a swab. We suggest that prior to testing, you rinse out your mouth to make sure it is clean.
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Are my results legally admissible?: Our laboratory results are recognized by courts in the U.S. and most countries, and are routinely 10 to 1,000 times more accurate than what the court requires for proof of parentage. To ensure a strict chain-of-custody, all parties are positively identified, photographed and fingerprinted when samples are collected. All DNA samples are stored in a secure facility to ensure accurate, legally defensible results. A notarized test report will be sent to all tested parties and attorneys if requested.
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What about confidentiality?: Information of any kind regarding a case will not be released to anyone other than the tested parties and their named representatives without written order.
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How will I receive my results?: The report is a confidential, notarized legal document that has a scientific description of the genetic patterns. Information is also included that explains the results in everyday language. Results are available for pick up at the main AccuMolecular Diagnostics facility in San Antonio or can be mailed. Results can not be given over the phone.
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How do I pay for the test?: Payment for paternity testing can be in the form of cash/check/debit/credit card if present in person or via check or credit card via mail. Results are not released until full payment has been received.
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What if the tested parties live in different cities? Must they go in together for paternity testing?: No, we have a worldwide network of collection centers. In many locations, medical personnel can come right to your home. You set the timing and arrangements when you schedule. Additional fees will apply for collection sites outside of San Antonio, Texas.
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Isn't blood better than cheek swabs?: No, your DNA is the same throughout your body. As a result, the source of the DNA sample does not affect the accuracy of a DNA paternity test.

Before DNA testing it was necessary to use blood in order to have a paternity test. It was also necessary to wait until a child was 6 months old. Those types of tests were HLA and red cell antigen tests. Since DNA testing began to be used for paternity in the early 1990s, the older type of blood tests have become less common.

DNA testing is not limited to blood samples. The source of your DNA doesn't matter. The DNA from your cheek cells is exactly the same as the DNA from your blood. The accuracy of a paternity test is exactly the same, whether we test blood or cheek cells from swabs. The reliability of a DNA test is not based on the type of specimen used, but on the type and amount of DNA testing performed by the laboratory.
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1-(866)-586-6189 toll free

(210)-767-3951 San Antonio