Maternity test

Confirms whether a woman is a child's biological mother.

Used for
IVF and surrogacy questions, adoption, family records, legal cases
Who takes part
The child and the woman
Samples
Cheek swabs
Result
A probability of maternity
Court use
With a witnessed collection

How it works

It works like a paternity test. At each marker the child has one number from the mother. The lab checks whether the woman has that number at every marker and reports a probability of maternity.

When people use it

  • To confirm the right embryo was used after IVF, or who the biological mother is in a surrogacy
  • To confirm a birth mother after an adoption
  • To settle a legal question, such as inheritance

For immigration

A maternity test for a visa or passport case is arranged by the petitioner directly with an AABB-accredited lab. See immigration DNA tests.

Questions

Does the father need to take part?

No. The test compares only the child and the woman.

Can it be used in court?

Yes, with a witnessed collection, as in a legal test.

Guides for this test

  • How do you read paternity test results?Look first at the probability of paternity and the conclusion. A result of 0% means the man tested is excluded as the biological father; 99% or more, backed by a large combined paternity index, means he is very likely the father.
  • Can a paternity test be wrong?Rarely, and most often because of a sample problem, such as a mix-up or contamination, or because the man tested is closely related to the real father. Identical twins are the one case a standard test can't settle.
  • Immigration DNA test: how it works and what it costsAn immigration DNA test is a relationship test that USCIS or a U.S. embassy or consulate may suggest when documents can't prove a family tie. The petitioner must arrange it directly with an AABB-accredited lab, so we do not sell immigration tests.

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