Can You Do a Paternity Test Without the Mother?
Published January 15, 2026 · Medically reviewed by the partner laboratory's medical director, AABB-accredited relationship-testing laboratory
Yes. A modern DNA paternity test using only the alleged father and the child produces a conclusive result — 99.99% or higher probability of paternity when he is the biological father, or 0% (exclusion) when he is not. Including the mother is free but not required.
Why the mother's sample is optional
Every person inherits half their DNA from each biological parent. When we compare 34 genetic markers between the alleged father and child, we can determine whether the child could have inherited those specific markers from him. The mother's sample is used only to subtract her genetic contribution — helpful for statistical clarity in rare cases (like when the alleged father has an unusually common genetic profile), but not needed for a definitive answer.
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When you should include the mother
If you already have easy access to her sample, include it. It costs nothing extra and can increase statistical certainty from, say, 99.9994% to 99.9999%. Both results are conclusive.
How to test without her
Order the standard $99 kit. When it arrives, swab the alleged father's cheek and the child's cheek — 30 seconds each. Seal each swab in its labeled envelope, drop the prepaid mailer, and results arrive 1–2 business days after the lab receives your samples.