At-Home Paternity DNA Test | Alternative Samples

Turnaround for alternative sample paternity testing

Once the lab receives your samples and confirms viability, the paternity comparison runs on the same instruments and follows the same protocol as a standard cheek swab test. The end-to-end turnaround is longer than a cheek swab test because the alternative sample first has to pass forensic viability review. Plan for 5 to 7 business days from lab receipt to results in email, with variation depending on the sample type submitted.

What each business day is actually doing

• Day 1: Samples are logged and matched to your case.
• Days 1 to 5: The lab performs forensic DNA extraction, assesses viability and runs marker analysis if usable profiles are recovered.
• Days 5 to 7: Quality-control review, report preparation and release by your specialist.

What can push the timeline longer

The most common reason a case takes longer than 7 business days is a viability issue on the first alternative sample. If the sample doesn't yield enough DNA, your specialist contacts you and the clock effectively pauses while you decide whether to submit a replacement. Cheek swab paternity testing (our standard kit) usually returns results in 1 to 3 business days, which is the reason to only choose this discreet kit if a cheek swab genuinely isn't possible from one participant.

The Human Advantage Behind Every Accurate DNA Result

You get one point of contact for the case. That person tells you when samples arrive, walks you through viability if there's a concern, releases your results, and handles any questions afterward. There is no account to create, no barcode to scan, no online status page to check. You reach them by phone, email, or text.

Why alternative-sample cases specifically need a real person

Standard cheek swab cases are largely predictable. Alternative sample cases are less predictable, because sample viability is never certain until the lab has actually attempted extraction. When the lab needs to talk about a possible retest, a shipping issue, or a sample that yielded partial results, that conversation matters. Handing it to an automated portal frustrates customers who are already dealing with a sensitive situation.

What your specialist handles

• Sample intake confirmation.
• Explanation of any viability findings before extra fees are incurred.
• Emails the final report to the authorized recipients on the Result Notification Form.
• Post-result questions, including what a 99.999% or 0% probability means in practice.
• Guidance if you want to move to legal DNA testing after seeing an informational result.

Nothing on the outside of the shipment identifies what it is

Both the outbound kit and the return envelope ship in plain FedEx packaging. No logo, no DNA-testing language, no branding on the label. Kits are prepared to arrive at an address without drawing attention from anyone else in the household.

The charge on your statement reads "MFD"

Your credit card or bank statement shows the charge as "MFD" only. There is no reference to DNA testing, paternity testing, or the full My Forever DNA business name. This is the same billing arrangement across all our discreet products.

What we do not do with your DNA

• We do not build a consumer DNA profile.
• We do not upload results to ancestry, genealogy, or law enforcement databases.
• We do not sell or license DNA data.
• We do not require an account, a portal login, or kit activation.
• Physical samples are destroyed after testing per lab protocol.

What discreet testing does not do

Discreet DNA testing is not the same as legal DNA testing. If a court or agency needs the result, the collection has to be witnessed. If discretion means you're collecting a sample from someone who has not been told about the test, be aware that laws about consent to genetic testing vary by state, country, and jurisdiction. Compliance with those laws is your responsibility, not the lab's.

What’s Included in Your Secret DNA Test Kit

The $239 base kit includes:

• FDA-approved cheek swabs for one participant.
• One alternative DNA sample envelope for the other participant.
• Step-by-step illustrated instructions covering cheek swab and every accepted alternative sample.
• A guide to which alternative samples work best in which situations.
• Result Notification Form listing the authorized recipients of your results.
• Prepaid trackable FedEx return envelope in plain packaging for U.S. orders.
• All lab fees for one alternative sample viability review and the paternity comparison.
• One dedicated DNA specialist assigned to your case.

If you want to test more than one alleged father or more than one child

Select the number of alleged fathers and children using the options above. Add alternative samples for participants who cannot provide cheek swabs or for backup items. One alternative sample is already included. To include the mother's cheek swab at no additional cost, select "Yes" when ordering. Contact us before ordering for any other configuration.

If your first alternative sample fails viability

Your specialist will discuss replacement options and confirm the cost before you approve further testing. Recollection and retesting carry a $100 fee. Testing is non-refundable once alternative samples are submitted. See our Refund Policy.

How Our Discreet Home Paternity DNA Test Works

These steps describe the base kit. If you selected additional participants or alternative samples, collect and label every sample for your selected configuration.

Step 1 · Kit arrives

Your kit ships within 1 business day of ordering. U.S. delivery via FedEx typically takes 1 to 2 business days after dispatch, in plain unmarked packaging.

Step 2 · Choose which alternative sample to send

Read the sample guide included in the kit before collecting anything. It ranks which samples work best for which situations. The most reliable choices are a used toothbrush, hair with roots, or nail clippings.

Step 3 · Collect the cheek swab from one participant

The participant providing the cheek swab (either the alleged father or the child) collects two swabs by rubbing them against the inside of the cheek for 60 seconds each. Store the swabs in the swab envelope, air-dried at room temperature.

Step 4 · Collect the alternative sample from the other participant

Obtain the item you've chosen. For a toothbrush, use a brush the person has used for at least 20 sessions. For hair, take 25 to 50 strands with visible roots. Package the sample in the paper envelope provided. Do not use plastic bags or Ziploc bags at any stage.

Step 5 · Ship samples back

Put everything (cheek swabs, alternative sample envelope, notification form) into the prepaid FedEx return envelope. Drop it at any FedEx location or arrange a pickup. Tracking is included.

Step 6 · Lab logs samples and reviews viability

Within 1 business day of arrival, the lab logs your samples in. The forensic viability review on the alternative sample runs over the following 1 to 3 business days.

Step 7 · Comparison testing runs when viability is confirmed

The lab runs the paternity comparison against 24 DNA genetic markers with dual processing. This step is identical to standard cheek swab paternity testing once the alternative sample has yielded a usable profile.

Step 8 · Results delivered by email

Your specialist emails the full-color PDF report to the authorized recipients listed on the Result Notification Form. Results are processed and delivered Monday through Friday. Weekends and holidays are outside the turnaround window.

Important Legal Notice

This test is for informational purposes only and is not intended for legal or court-admissible use unless a legal chain-of-custody DNA test is purchased.