Maternity DNA Testing

Are you the mother?

Maternity DNA Testing helps determine whether the adult being tested is the biological mother of the child or children.

Children get 50% of their DNA from each parent. With a maternal DNA test, you can verify the mother/child relationship (maternity) without having to test the father.

DNA samples are collected by gently rubbing a soft sponge on the inside of your cheek.  The process is non-invasive, quick and gentle enough for newborns. For a maternity test, separate samples must be compared for each child and the alleged mother(s).

The science:

A Maternity test compares the DNA of the alleged mother and child/children to determine if their DNA matches at 50% (children inherit 50% of their DNA from each parent).

If the DNA from the alleged mother does not match the DNA from the child, the alleged mother is excluded as the biological mother; this is reported as 0% probability of maternity.

When the DNA does match, then the alleged mother is concluded to be the biological mother of the child, typically at a minimum probability of maternity of 99.95% or higher.

For answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about DNA testing, please click here.