DNA Testing in Redwood City, California

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Health Street offers DNA testing, legal paternity tests, and sibling DNA tests in Redwood City, California at a centrally located testing laboratory. Register now, or call us at (650) 646-2414 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 Redwood 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 – Redwood City, California

Redwood City CA DNA Testing Locations

Paternity Testing in Redwood City, California

There are several types of DNA testing services that are offered at our Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood City CA

Scheduling a DNA test at one of our Redwood 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 Redwood City, plus many more throughout California 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 Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood 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 California as well as nationwide, so we can test one party in Redwood 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 Redwood City or elsewhere are shipped securely from our testing locations to a nationally certified laboratory.

Why Health Street

More than a Decade of Experience

Since 2010, Health Street has offered DNA tests in Redwood City, the state of Redwood City, California, and throughout the nation.  The first DNA test that Health Street provided in Redwood City, CA was in 2018.

Commitment to Excellence

Our mission is to understand the DNA testing needs of our clients. We strive to provide the most accurate, fast, and conclusive paternity tests in Redwood City. 

Redwood City, California – DNA Testing

Establishing paternity in Redwood, California

Redwood, California parents who are not married but have children should consider establishing paternity. Usually, when there are no reasons to question the father-child relationships, parents sign the Voluntary Declaration of Parentage (VDP) at the hospital after the child is born. The staff can usually help navigate parents through signing and filing the documents. It is important to note that a VDP is a legally binding document that can be difficult to challenge once signed, so parents should be in agreement first.

Parents who doubt paternity or disagree with each other often choose not to sign the VDP and go to court to establish parentage instead. The judge will usually order the alleged father and the child to take a DNA test showing whether they are related. After parentage has been established, custody, visitation hours, and child support can be determined too.

Redwood, CA: Benefits of establishing paternity

Parents who are questioning whether to establish paternity should know that it has multiple benefits, not only for the child but also for the parents. By establishing paternity, parents can share rights and responsibilities, which means they can emotionally and financially support their children. They can both have the right to ask for custody or visitation hours. Additionally, once paternity is established, parents can participate in important decisions about their child’s life regarding their health, education, and religious upbringing.

Some of the benefits for the child can include:

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The right to inherit from both parents
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Having both parents on the birth certificate
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Better sense of identity
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Bonding with both parents emotionally
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Financial support
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Access to medical family history from both parents
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Social Security
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Health and life insurance
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Possibly veterans and disability benefits

Even if unmarried parents have a good relationship with each other, anything can happen. For example, in case of the mother’s death, the father may struggle with his paternity rights if paternity was not established beforehand.

Last updated 2/3/2023

Neighborhoods In and Around Redwood City That We Serve

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Canyon
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Palm Park
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Centennial
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Redwood Oaks
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Eagle Hill
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Roosevelt
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Emerald Lake Hills
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Redwood City North
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Edgewood Park
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Woodhill Estates
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San Carlos
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Atherton
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Menlo Park

Additional Services

We also offer other services, such as:

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California Background Check for Employers in Redwood City, CA

Citations

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Parentage (paternity). Parentage (Paternity) – paternity_famlaw_selfhelp. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-parentage.htm?rdeLocaleAttr=en