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1. Can anyone have genetic testing done through the child support office?

The child support office will only arrange for genetic testing if the mother or alleged father applies for child support services, or receives public assistance benefits for the child, and the child support office determines the applicant's child does not have a legal father.

Individuals who want genetic testing but do not have a child support case open with the child support office can independently contact a genetic testing lab about genetic testing services.

2. Is blood more accurate than cheek cells when testing for paternity?

A person's DNA is the same whether it is collected from cheek cells or blood, so both are equally accurate. Collecting blood samples from children can be a painful and frightening experience, so the child support office uses cheek cell collection instead of blood sample collection.

3. How accurate are genetic tests?

DNA testing is very accurate and will indicate either a probability of paternity greater than 99.9% (inclusion) or 0% (exclusion).

4. At what age can children be tested?

Samples can be collected from children at any age.

5. Does genetic testing establish paternity?

Genetic testing does not establish paternity. It does provide the mother and potential legal father with factual information to help them decide if they want to sign the Recognition of Parentage. In a paternity legal action, the test results are important evidence that can help the court determine who the legal father is and to issue a court order naming the legal father.

6. Who pays for genetic testing in a county paternity case?

The child support office will initially pay for the testing, however if the genetic testing proves the man is the child's biological father, the Court may order either or both parties to contribute to the cost of the genetic testing. If the genetic testing excluded the man as a possible father, he does not have to pay for any of the testing fees.

7. Can genetic testing be completed without a sample from the mother?

Accurate results can be obtained without a sample from the mother. In these instances, samples from the child and alleged father must be obtained. Additionally, when the mother's genetic information is not available, additional tests are run to provide the same level of confidence in the results.

8. Can genetic testing be completed from a recently deceased individual?

A deceased individual's DNA can be tested, provided the coroner's office has samples on file and a deceased family member or the court authorizes the release of the samples.

9. Can genetic testing be completed if the father is deceased and a DNA sample cannot be obtained?

Paternity can still be established by testing other known family members to construct the DNA lineage. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and cousins can all be used to reconstruct family relationships.

10. What if one of the individuals to be tested resides in another city or state?

Sample collection can be scheduled at a site near that individual's place of residence or employment.

11. How long will it take for the results to be ready?

The genetic test results will be available within 21 days of when the last person was tested. Child support workers will not give genetic test results over the phone. Each person tested will receive the results by mail.

12. What if there are multiple alleged fathers?

All possible fathers may need to be tested. Genetic testing may occur either voluntarily or may be court ordered.

13. What if all the individuals who need to submit to genetic testing are not cooperating with the child support office?

The Washington County Attorney's Office works with the child support office and may bring a court action asking a Judge to order all the necessary individuals to submit to genetic testing. When a Judge signs a court order for genetic testing, the mother, father and child must submit to testing.

Failure to cooperate with court ordered genetic testing may result in a warrant being issued for the arrest of the person(s) who fail to cooperate.