If you’ve already taken a paternity test, your results are typically delivered through the same lab or company that processed your sample. Most labs send results by mail, email, or through a secure online portal, and standard turnaround is about a week from the time all samples arrive at the facility. How you access those results depends on the type of test you took and who ordered it.
Results From a Lab or Testing Company
When you order a paternity test through a lab directly or through a testing company, you’ll usually receive results in one of three ways: a physical letter mailed to the address on file, an email notification, or access through a secure online account. Many labs now use patient portals where you can log in to view results as soon as they’re posted. Labcorp, for example, offers a patient portal where you create an account and view test results online. The specific portal and login process varies by lab, so check the paperwork or confirmation email you received when you submitted your samples.
If you ordered a legal (court-admissible) paternity test, results are often sent to the attorney or court that requested the test, not directly to you. In these cases, you may need to contact your attorney or the court clerk’s office to get a copy. The lab itself may not release results to you without authorization from whoever ordered the test.
At-Home Kit Results
If you used an at-home paternity test kit purchased from a pharmacy or online, results are typically delivered through the company’s website or app. You’ll log in using the account you created when you registered your kit. Most companies send an email when results are ready, prompting you to sign in and view them. If you can’t find your login credentials, check your email for the original registration confirmation, which usually contains your account details or a link to reset your password.
Keep in mind that at-home kits are considered “peace of mind” tests. They use the same DNA analysis as legal tests, but because sample collection isn’t supervised by a third party, these results aren’t admissible in court.
Consumer DNA Services Like 23andMe
If you’re using a consumer genetics service to identify biological relatives rather than a dedicated paternity test, the process works differently. Services like 23andMe have a DNA Relatives feature that compares your genetic data against other users in the database. If your biological father has also been genotyped with the same service and opted into sharing, he’ll appear as a match labeled “Father’s side.” If only one parent is in the system, relatives will be labeled as either matching or not matching that parent.
This approach depends entirely on whether the person you’re looking for has also tested with the same company and opted into relative matching. It’s not a substitute for a formal paternity test, but it can be a useful tool when searching for biological family.
How Long Results Take
Most paternity tests are reported within a week from the time all samples reach the lab, according to the AABB (the organization that accredits relationship testing facilities). Some companies advertise results in as few as two business days, while others take up to ten. If your test requires extended analysis, such as additional genetic marker testing, it may take longer.
Prenatal paternity tests, which use a blood sample from the mother to analyze fetal DNA, generally take one to two weeks. If you’ve been waiting longer than the timeframe quoted by your lab, contact the facility that collected your samples for a status update.
What Your Results Mean
Paternity test reports list a “probability of paternity,” and the result is almost always one of two values: 0% or 99.9%. A result of 0% means there is no genetic match, and the tested individual is not the biological father. A result of 99.9% means the tested individual is almost certainly the biological father. You won’t see a result of 100% because DNA testing works on statistical probability, but 99.9% is considered definitive confirmation.
Some reports also include a “Combined Paternity Index,” which is the raw statistical calculation behind that percentage. A higher number supports paternity. You generally don’t need to interpret this number yourself, as the probability percentage gives you the clear answer.
When Results Are Delayed or Inconclusive
Occasionally, a paternity test comes back inconclusive rather than giving a clear yes or no. This can happen for a few reasons. Contamination is one of the most common: touching the swab tip with bare hands or storing samples improperly can mix DNA profiles and make results unreadable. Too few shared genetic markers between participants can also produce a borderline result, particularly in tests between siblings, aunts, uncles, or grandparents rather than a direct parent-child comparison.
If your results are inconclusive, the lab will typically ask you to retest. Some labs can work with alternative sample types beyond cheek swabs, though this may cost extra and extend the processing time. If your results are simply delayed without explanation, calling the lab’s customer service line with your case number is the fastest way to get a status update.
Who Can Access Your Results
Labs take confidentiality seriously with paternity testing. Results are only released to the individuals listed on the test order or, in legal cases, to the requesting attorney or court. If you’re trying to access results for a test someone else ordered, you generally won’t be able to get them without that person’s authorization or a court order. Similarly, if you ordered the test, the other tested party typically cannot access your copy of the results directly from the lab without your consent.
If you’ve lost access to your results entirely, contact the lab with your full name, date of birth, and any case or reference numbers from your original paperwork. Most labs retain records for several years and can reissue results after verifying your identity.