Legal DNA Test | DNA Testing Glossary
A legal DNA test is a DNA relationship test performed under strict chain-of-custody procedures so the results are admissible in court and accepted by government agencies. The key difference from a home test is not the science — the laboratory analysis is identical — but the collection process. Samples must be collected by a neutral third-party witness, participant identities must be verified with photo ID, and every transfer of the samples must be documented. Legal DNA tests are required for court-ordered paternity cases, child support proceedings, custody disputes, immigration petitions, and updates to birth certificates. Legal testing must be performed by a laboratory that meets the standards set by AABB, the accrediting body for relationship testing labs.
Related Terms
Chain of Custody, Home DNA Test, AABB, Paternity Test, Alleged Father
