How Long Does A Paternity Test Take

Ask anybody who has waited for a paternity test to give its results and they will tell you that wait was the longest in their life. Regardless of whether you have accidentally impregnated a one-night stand, or your beloved wife, waiting for a paternity test might be one of the most difficult things to do. Having a child is one of the most significant moments in any individual’s life, so it is no surprise that people are so desperate to know the results of paternity tests. So let’s get down to the basics, how long does a paternity test take to produce results?
The answer to the question ‘how long does a paternity test take?’ depends on whether you took a personal paternity test or a legal paternity test. Although the actual test is the same in both cases, the processes by which the samples are collected are different, and so both the legal and personal paternity tests take different amounts of time. Before one goes ahead and answers the question, ‘how long does a paternity test take?’ it is essential to distinguish between the two major kinds of paternity tests.
In the case of legal paternity tests, collection of samples for the test are required to be done by a third party who has absolutely no vested or contingent interest in the matter. There are various laboratories that handle paternity tests all over the world. In most circumstances, an appointment is needed in order to get a legal paternity test done. Depending on where you live, you should try to secure this appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Most laboratories take between two and three days to complete the testing process. If you can’t wait very long for a result to the legal paternity test, you should see whether the lab allows individuals to access results on the internet as soon as they are available.

Unlike the legal paternity test described above, the personal paternity test involves collecting the sample yourself. There are a number of extremely reliable paternity collection kits available in any medical store or pharmacy. Although you can collect the samples on your own, you cannot tabulate the results yourself. In fact, you will have to find a laboratory. How long does a paternity test take to produce results? Typically, a laboratory should be able to deliver results within two or three days.

Now that you know the answer to the question ‘how long does a paternity test take?’ you should share this information with the person with whom you might have a child. You should avoid discussing your options, fear or hopefulness with your partner until you are hundred percent sure whether or not you are going to have a baby together. Since the wait for a paternity test result can be extremely overwhelming, you should try to keep your mind distracted. Worrying about something, or even worse, celebrating something that does not exist can only backfire.