What does a paternity test cost?
A paternity test is of course not free of charge. A private paternity test is paid by the client. A paternity test in Germany and Austria can cost approximately between 150 and 400 euros, but sometimes more. The exact price depends on the provider, the number of DNA markers analyzed (short, uniquely identifiable DNA segments) and the number of people included in the analysis (father and child only or mother or siblings in addition).
In Switzerland, about 300 Swiss francs are charged for a simple paternity test in which the genetic material of father and child is analyzed. If the mother is included, higher costs of around 1,000 Swiss francs are incurred.
If one of the parties refuses to have a paternity test carried out, the court can be requested to establish paternity. The competent court then orders the paternity test (parentage report) and initially also assumes the costs for it. If paternity is confirmed, the father usually has to bear the costs later.
When is a paternity test possible?
In most countries, the consent of the involvement is required before a paternity test. However, there are exceptions.
Paternity test in Germany
You cannot order a paternity test privately without the knowledge and consent of the parties involved. Both the mother and the potential father must therefore agree to the test in writing. If the child is already of age, his or her written consent is also required.
The reason: Genetic material is legally subject to data protection. A paternity test carried out secretly is therefore not accepted as evidence in a court of law.
And not only that: If a paternity test is carried out secretly without the consent of the mother and – if the child is of age – of the child, clients face a hefty fine.
Paternity testing in Switzerland
Secret paternity tests are also not permitted in Switzerland – as in most European countries. Both mother and father must agree if the child is still a minor. In the case of adult children, their consent is also required.
Paternity testing in Austria
In Austria, however, secret paternity tests are not prohibited by law. However, they are not usable in court.
For a court-approved test, the consent of the parties involved is required – including that of the child if he or she is already of age.
Paternity test during pregnancy
Such a prenatal parentage report is only permitted in Germany if a doctor suspects that the unborn child was conceived as a result of rape or sexual abuse. Authorities can then order the paternity test before birth. It is not allowed to have it done privately.
The situation is different in Austria and Switzerland. There, a prenatal paternity test may be performed privately.
How does a paternity test work?
Paternity can be assessed on the basis of the blood groups of those involved or external characteristics such as skin, hair or eye color. However, a reliable paternity test consists of DNA analysis. This involves comparing the genetic material (DNA) of the possible father with that of the child. 50 percent of a person’s genetic material always comes from the father and 50 percent from the mother.
All body cells contain DNA. Therefore, blood samples, hair or a saliva sample (contains mucous membrane cells with DNA) are suitable for analysis.
Saliva samples are often used for a paternity test. Blood is more difficult to obtain. A paternity test with hair is also less favorable, because hair cannot always be clearly assigned to a person.
The analytical methods used in the laboratory are the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis in a paternity test.
Prenatal pregnancy test: how it works
Since 2012, there has been a risk-free method for prenatal testing: the DNA of the fetus can be isolated from a blood sample of the mother and examined in the laboratory.
Other methods are associated with a not inconsiderable risk of miscarriage:
- From the 15th week of pregnancy, it is possible to take amniotic fluid (amniocentesis) to obtain DNA material from the fetus. The risk of miscarriage in this context is about 0.5 percent.
- In the 10th to 12th week, a chorionic villus sampling can be performed. In this case, tissue is taken from the placenta and analyzed. The risk of miscarriage here is about 1 percent.
Paternity test: Result
After the paternity test, it takes a few days until the result is available. The result tells whether there is paternity or not. Specifically, a paternity test can exclude paternity 100 percent or confirm it with a probability of 99.9 percent. The tests are very reliable, so a paternity test result can’t be practically wrong.
Where can you take a paternity test?
In Switzerland, a paternity test is only admissible in court if it is carried out in an institute for forensic medicine or a laboratory recognized by the federal government. Tests via the Internet or sending samples abroad for analysis are not admissible in court.
