Parents’ body: Avoid internet paternity tests

PARENTS should avoid doing paternity tests through the internet as many of these laboratories aren’t approved and results may not be reliable for use in court.

This warning comes from the National Federation of Services for Unmarried Parents.

Doctors, taking swabs for such tests, say the number of parents seeking paternity has more than doubled in the past year. It’s estimated that at least 1,000 such tests are requested in Ireland each year. Many tests are used by mothers to ensure maintenance payments from fathers while fathers use the test process to help gain access to their children. Tests can cost from €300 to more than €1,300.