DNA Testing in Topeka, Kansas

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Health Street provides DNA tests and legal paternity testing in Topeka, Kansas at 2 conveniently located testing laboratories. Call (785) 783-0054 or schedule online. We offer legal paternity tests, sibling studies, grandparent DNA tests, avuncular (aunt or uncle) testing, and postmortem DNA testing to determine if people are biologically related.

Set up DNA testing appointments online. Test results can be used in court for child support or to change a birth certificate; it can also be used for simple peace of mind. Appointments can be scheduled together or separately. Legal DNA tests are done by cheek swab at our testing centers. We can also extract DNA samples from hair follicles, fingernails, and other specimens.

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DNA Test - Topeka, Kansas

Topeka KS DNA Testing Locations

Paternity Testing in Topeka, Kansas

There are several types of DNA testing services that are offered at our Topeka 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 Topeka 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 Topeka KS

Scheduling a DNA test at one of our Topeka 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 Topeka, plus many more throughout Kansas 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 Topeka 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 Topeka 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 Topeka

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 Kansas as well as nationwide, so we can test one party in Topeka 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 Topeka or elsewhere are shipped securely from our testing locations to a nationally certified laboratory.

Why Health Street

A Decade Plus of Experience

Health Street has provided DNA tests since 2010. We have provided DNA tests and paternity tests to thousands of people in Topeka as well as communities all across the nation.

Dedicated to Excellence

We are proud to help families and individuals get DNA testing in Topeka. 

Topeka KS DNA Testing

Man Raised on Topeka Reunited with Half-Siblings After DNA Test

When Terry Keith took a DNA test, he was shocked to learn that he had not one but two half-sisters he never knew about. Terry reached out to Kimmie and Christian and learned that they had the same father, who had died a year earlier. When they sent him a photo, Terry knew it was true—he was a spitting image of his father.

As they chatted, they learned that Terry, who was raised in Topeka, unknowingly lived close to his sisters for quite some time. After checking Facebook, they found that they even had several mutual friends. Terry and Kimmie soon met in person, spending both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays together. Both were overwhelmed by the shocking similarities between them. Speaking of the reunion, Kimmie said, "Terry and I talk every day on the phone. And we just make all kinds of plans for the future. It's so beautiful."

Establishing Paternity in Topeka, KS

In the state of Kansas, unmarried couples need to take steps to establish legal paternity for their children. According to Topeka-based Kansas Legal Services, simply having the father sign the birth certificate isn't enough. Legal paternity still needs to be established before the courts can rule on child support and parenting time orders. This can be done in one of two ways:

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Signing a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity (VAP) form
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Filing a paternity lawsuit with the courts

A VAP form can be signed and filed at the hospital when the child is born, and the father's name will be added to the birth certificate. Otherwise, both parents can sign and file a Paternity Consent Form for Birth Registration at any time before the child turns 18. If the parents don't both agree to sign a VAP, the courts can determine paternity. In this case, a DNA test may be required.

Tips for Handling Paternity Fraud

Topeka-based Stange Law Firm states that although paternity fraud is not a punishable crime, men who have been victimized do have some options. First, a man can demand a paternity test through the court system. This can prove whether a child is biologically theirs.

Men who believe a child's mother knowingly lied about their paternity to get child support can file for a Disestablishment of Paternity. This may be granted by the courts, particularly if the child is very young. In some cases, men who have been victimized by intentional paternity fraud may have legal recourse against the child's mother and may also be able to hold the child's biological father accountable for the child support they have already paid.

Last updated 10/3/2022

Neighborhoods Served in Topeka

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Potwin
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Quinton Heights
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Randolph
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South Topeka
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State House
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Tennessee Town
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Topeka Airport Forbes Field
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Topeka Country Club
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Ward Meade
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West Topeka

Additional Services

Health Street offers a variety of other services, including:

Citations

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Esther. "Half-Siblings Reunite Thanks to MyHeritage DNA." MyHeritage Blog, 2 July 2019, https://blog.myheritage.com/2019/07/half-siblings-reunite-thanks-to-myheritage-dna/
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"Kansas Paternity (Raising Children without Marriage) Action." Kansas Legal Services, https://www.kansaslegalservices.org/node/1847/kansas-paternity-raising-children-without-marriage-action
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Castillo, Amy. "Paternity in Kansas." DivorceNet, https://www.divorcenet.com/resources/paternity-kansas.html#:~:text=How%20Can%20You%20Establish%20Paternity,someone%20files%20a%20paternity%20lawsuit.
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"Paternity Consent Form for Birth Registration." Kansas Department of Health and Environment, https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10871/VS211---Paternity-Consent-Form-for-Birth-Registration-PDF
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"What is Paternity Fraud?" Stange Law Firm, 12 December 2021, https://www.midwestfathersrights.com/2021/12/what-is-paternity-fraud/
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"Topeka, Kansas Neighborhood Map - Income, House Prices, Occupations, Boundaries." City-Data, http://www.city-data.com/nbmaps/neigh-Topeka-Kansas.html