DNA Testing – Ocean City, Maryland

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Health Street offers DNA testing, legal paternity tests, and sibling DNA tests in Ocean City, Maryland at a centrally located testing laboratory. Register now, or call us at (443) 238-1159 or schedule online. with any questions. Our paternity testing (including grandparent DNA tests, avuncular (aunt or uncle) testing, and postmortem DNA testing) determines if two or more people are related.

Schedule your Ocean City DNA test appointment online. Our legal DNA test results can be used in court for matters such as: child support, birth certificates, and custody cases. Appointments can be scheduled together or separately. Legal DNA tests are done by cheek swab at our testing centers. We also offer home DNA test kits for peace of mind. DNA can be tested from hair, fingernails, and other specimens.

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DNA Test – Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City MD DNA Testing Locations

Paternity Testing in Ocean City, Maryland

There are several types of DNA testing services that are offered at our Ocean City testing centers to validate close family relationships. The most commonly ordered DNA test is a legal paternity test to conclusively establish whether or not a man is the biological father of a child. Health Street’s 21 marker DNA paternity testing is the state of the art. Our paternity test results are statistically conclusive at the rate of 99.9% or greater.

Other DNA Tests

Relationship Tests to validate grandparent to grandchild, siblings, half-siblings, aunts, and uncles:

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Grandparent DNA Test (if the father is not available for testing)
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Sibling DNA Test (possible brothers, sisters, or half-siblings)
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Avuncular DNA Test (aunt/uncle and niece/nephew)

DNA tests such as sibling or avuncular studies, can sometimes come back with a result of less than 95% certainty. This is normal, especially if only two parties participate in the test. Adding an additional close relative to the test helps us learn more about the family’s DNA composition and typically leads to a more conclusive result.

Specimens we can test for DNA

The easiest and most reliable way to perform a genetic sample collection for a paternity test is by a swab of the inner cheeks. These skin cells, known as buccal cells, rub off easily onto cotton swabs and remain in place, to be extracted by our testing laboratories for analysis.

Other specimens, such as hair follicles, fingernails, and garments that might contain someone’s DNA, can also undergo lab testing to see if there is a match. These non-standard DNA tests are done by registering online for an Alternative Specimen DNA Test (Nails, Teeth, Fabric). Once registered, you ship the DNA sample to our lab. We’ll attempt to extract the DNA and compare it to a cheek swab of the other party.

Legal DNA Tests vs. “Peace of Mind” At-Home Tests

When deciding which type of DNA test is right for you, consider first what you might do with the results. In order for the results to hold up in court, the DNA specimen must be collected at a clinic using strict chain of custody procedures. The DNA testing technicians at our Ocean City test centers are trained to follow guidelines that ensure that the results can be used for legal purposes.

The results of our legal DNA tests can be used for any legal purpose:

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to change the name on a birth certificate
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to petition for child support
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to petition for survivor benefits
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for child custody arrangements
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to alter inheritance procedures or wills

Home tests offer more flexibility:

Home DNA tests are specimens containing DNA (or possible DNA) that are shipped to us for analysis. The results of these home tests cannot be used in court (since there is no way to prove whose specimens were actually sent). However, the tests are just as accurate and can provide peace of mind. At-home DNA tests also offer a lot more flexibility.

In addition to commonly mailed in DNA specimens like hair follicles, we can also extract DNA from other bodily fluids. We can even try and lift the DNA left on items like clothing, a toothbrush, or a straw. If we can get the DNA from the alternative item, we can then compare it to another person to see if they are related. Some examples include:

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Q-tips
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Stained garments
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Mucus and other bodily fluids
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Soda cans
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Chewing gum

How to schedule a DNA Test in Ocean City MD

Scheduling a DNA test at one of our Ocean City clinics is simple and fast, and we often have appointments available in the same week, though it’s always helpful to schedule in advance to make sure you get the time you want. We have clinics in Ocean City, plus many more throughout Maryland and across the United States. During registration, we’ll show you the nearest locations so you can choose the one that’s most convenient. You’ll pick the times and days that you prefer.

You can set up separate appointments for each of the people being tested, either at the same location or at different locations. You’ll get an email and text message with your appointment information. There is no fee if you need to change the time or location of a DNA test appointment at any time.

How long it takes to get results of a DNA test

Paternity tests conducted at one of our Ocean City facilities typically take about a week to come back. Other relationship tests, such as sibling studies, can take a few days longer to come back. When the results are ready, you are notified immediately via email. Then, the hard copies of the paperwork are sent afterward via regular mail.

The DNA test appointment – what to expect and what to bring

The appointment itself only takes about 15 minutes. The specimen collection process is a simple and painless cheek swab. No needles are used. When you’re being tested at our Ocean City clinic, you’ll be asked to provide fingerprints and to show photo identification. We’ll also take pictures of the people being tested so that the final report will include legal assurances of who was actually tested.

For infants, hospital discharge papers qualify as identification. Otherwise, a birth certificate or social security card can be used as ID for a child. No other preparations are required for this appointment.

Does the mother need to be present at a paternity test?

If a man is considered the legal father of a child, then the mother does not have to be present or give consent for paternity testing. However, if he is not currently considered the legal father, then he cannot sign for the child. Therefore, the mother does need to be there. If neither parent is available, other legal guardians can bring the child so long as they have the right to make medical decisions on the child’s behalf.

DNA testing if one party is not in Ocean City

The two parties testing (for example: father and child) do not have to be tested at the same time or even at the same location. We have many clinics across Maryland as well as nationwide, so we can test one party in Ocean City and the other party anywhere else in the USA. The specimens are then matched up in the lab for analysis.

Laboratory certifications

Health Street works strictly with AABB Certified labs for DNA testing. All specimens that are collected in Ocean City or elsewhere are shipped securely from our testing locations to a nationally certified laboratory.

Why Health Street

Over a Decade of Experience

Health Street has been performing DNA testing nationally since 2010.  We have helped thousands of people from Ocean City to communities all across the USA get DNA tests and paternity tests.

Dedication to Excellence

Our dedication to excellence includes our commitment to provide compassionate services and to helping people obtain the accurate DNA testing in Ocean City that they need. 

DNA Information for Ocean City MD

Proving Paternity for Child Custody Purposes in Ocean City, MD, and Worcester County

Establishing paternity means giving a child a legal father and for the child’s best interest, this should be done right away after the child is born.

In Ocean City, MD and Worcester County, there are three ways to establish paternity.

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Marital presumption. If two parents are married at the time the child is born, it is assumed that the husband is the child’s father and no further action needs to be taken to establish paternity.
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Affidavit of Parentage. If the mother is not married at the time she gives birth, both parents will need to complete an Affidavit of Parentage, which is a legal document to voluntarily establish paternity. This form can be filled out while in the hospital at the child’s time of birth, free of charge if both parents agree to sign. It can also be completed at a later time, but the signing must be witnessed by a notary. If either parent signs this form and then changes his or her mind about who the father is, you may submit a Rescission Form for Affidavit of Parentage within 60 days.
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Court order (judicial declaration). If a mother is unmarried, she can establish paternity through a court proceeding. This can be done if the father states under oath that he is the father. Otherwise, genetic testing for paternity may be ordered through the court.

If a father denies paternity, DNA testing may be ordered through the court to establish paternity.

Experts Say…

Rodier Family Law in Maryland discusses the importance of establishing paternity by saying, “Both parties should work to establish paternity to bring financial and emotional benefits to all members of the family…Not only does establishing paternity bring tangible benefits to a child, but can allow for relationship building and stronger communication between family members to make decisions that are in the child’s best interest.”

Neighborhoods in Ocean City Served by our Clinics

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North Ocean City
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Golden Sands
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Ocean Gateway
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Sinepuxent
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Traders Cove
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Windsor Rd
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Montego Bay
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Oceanside
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High Point
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Harbour Island

Additional Services

We also offer other services, such as:

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Maryland Background Check for Employers in Ocean City, MD

Citations

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“Paternity Establishment.” Maryland Department of Human Services, https://dhs.maryland.gov/child-support-services/apply-for-support-services/establish-paternity/
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“Paternity.” The People’s Law Library of Maryland, https://www.peoples-law.org/paternity
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“Laws for Establishing Paternity in Maryland.” Rodier Family Law, 13 February 2020, https://www.rodierfamilylaw.com/news/2020/02/laws-for-establishing-paternity-in-maryland/
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“Discover your Ocean City neighborhood.” Nextdoor, https://nextdoor.com/city/ocean-city–md/