Grandparent Testing
Grandparent Testing Summary
A grandparent DNA test can assess whether a child is biologically related to the parents of an alleged father. It is commonly used when the alleged father is deceased, unavailable or unwilling to participate.
The strongest grandparent case normally includes the child, the child’s biological mother and both possible paternal grandparents. Testing both grandparents effectively reconstructs more of the alleged father’s genetic contribution. One grandparent can still be tested, but the result may be less conclusive.
Grandparent testing is an indirect relationship test, so it does not always deliver the same certainty as testing the alleged father directly. Including the mother helps the laboratory remove the maternal portion of the child’s DNA from the comparison. It is also essential that the tested grandparents are genuinely the biological parents of the alleged father.
Our current personal information grandparent testing options begin from £145 for a child, mother and one grandparent, with a two-working-day laboratory turnaround after the complete samples arrive. The service uses discreet home cheek-swab kits and is not intended for court or other official use.
- 2 working day results available from £145*
- We strongly recommend that the mother of the child participates in the testing as this really helps with the interpretation of the final results and makes the results much more conclusive.
- All shipping included in advertised price, including return of samples to our laboratory.
- Discreet sampling kit to a single address. Option to send additional kit to separate address if required.
- UK based customer service and laboratory. We will never send your samples to another company for processing.
- If the potential biological relationships involved are complex, please call us before you order so we can discuss the case with you.
* From the time we receive your samples in the laboratory.
Please note, this test is for personal information purposes only. If you require the test for any other reason, please contact us.
Understanding Grandparent DNA Testing
A child inherits approximately half of their DNA from each biological parent. Each parent, in turn, inherited DNA from their own parents. This means a child should share identifiable genetic patterns with their biological grandparents.
A grandparent test measures whether the observed sharing is more consistent with the stated grandparent-grandchild relationship than with the participants being unrelated.
One grandparent or two?
Testing both paternal grandparents is preferable because their combined DNA represents the genetic material from which the alleged father inherited his profile. This gives the laboratory more information to compare with the child.
A test involving only one grandparent remains possible, but there is less genetic information available. The resulting probability may therefore be lower or, in some families, inconclusive.
Why include the mother?
The biological mother’s sample shows which markers in the child came from the maternal side. The remaining markers can then be evaluated against the possible paternal grandparent or grandparents.
Without the mother, the laboratory has to interpret both sides of the child’s DNA simultaneously. That does not make the test impossible, but it can reduce its power.
Accuracy
There is no responsible single percentage that applies to every grandparent case. Accuracy depends on which relatives participate, whether their claimed relationships are correct, the number and quality of markers tested and the statistical strength of the particular family’s profiles.
A result may strongly support the relationship, oppose it or remain inconclusive. A direct paternity test should be chosen whenever a sample from the alleged father can be obtained.
Ordering a kit
A home grandparent kit contains separately labelled cheek swabs and consent forms for the participants. The samples must be collected from the correct people and returned in the supplied packaging.
Where relatives live at different addresses, ask whether separate kits can be dispatched. Where the result is needed legally, do not begin with a personal kit; arrange witnessed collection and chain of custody from the outset.
Local, UK and international testing
People often search for a test “near me,” but the laboratory does not necessarily need to be on the same street. A home kit can be delivered and returned by post, provided the provider serves your location.
For a search in the UK, verify the physical UK laboratory details, many companies send samples overseas. That DNA Company is a UK service, so overseas customers should confirm shipping and jurisdictional suitability before ordering.
Grandparent Testing FAQs
Can DNA testing determine a biological relationship between a child and grandparent?
Yes. The laboratory compares inherited markers and calculates whether the results support the stated grandparent-grandchild relationship.
Where can I get grandparent DNA testing in the UK?
Go to a specialist relationship-testing laboratory like thatDNAcompany® which serves the UK from its own laboratory.
Is free grandparent DNA testing available?
Free private testing is not common and it is not a medical issue, so it is not on the NHS.
How does grandparent-grandchild DNA testing work?
The child’s DNA is compared with one or both possible grandparents. Statistical analysis determines whether the observed genetic sharing is more likely under the claimed relationship than under an unrelated scenario.
How accurate is grandparent DNA testing?
It can provide strong evidence, particularly when both grandparents and the child’s mother participate. Because it is an indirect test, it can sometimes be less decisive than testing the alleged father himself.
Where can I buy a grandparent DNA testing kit?
Order from a laboratory that specifically offers grandparentage analysis rather than a generic ancestry kit. Our personal information kits can be ordered through thatDNAcompany® for eligible UK cases.
Where can I get grandparent DNA testing near me?
A postal home kit may remove the need for a nearby clinic. A physical appointment is mainly required when the case needs witnessed legal collection or when the participants prefer professional sampling.
How does paternal grandparent DNA testing work?
The laboratory checks whether a child shares the genetic patterns expected from the alleged father’s biological mother, father or both. Including the child’s mother and both paternal grandparents gives the analysis the most useful family information.