DNA Testing Services
Confidential Answers for Life's Important Questions
A Nurse's Journey provides professional DNA specimen-collection services for individuals and families seeking clear, confidential, and reliable testing options. Available services may include personal-knowledge testing, legal relationship testing, family relationship testing, prenatal DNA testing, immigration-related DNA collection, and other approved DNA services. Testing is completed through an appropriate DNA laboratory. Collection requirements, identification requirements, laboratory procedures, pricing, eligibility, and turnaround times vary by test.
DNA Testing Services
We offer a range of relationship DNA testing options. Select the service that fits your situation.
Paternity DNA Testing
DNA testing used to help determine whether an alleged father is the biological father of a child.
- Personal-knowledge paternity testing
- Legal paternity testing
- Mother, child, and alleged-father testing
- Alleged-father and child testing
- Additional-participant testing, when available
Maternity DNA Testing
DNA testing used to help determine whether a tested woman is the biological mother of a child.
- Personal-knowledge maternity testing
- Legal maternity testing
- Mother and child testing
- Additional family-participant testing, when available
Sibling DNA Testing
Testing used to evaluate whether two or more individuals may share one or both biological parents.
- Full-sibling testing
- Half-sibling testing
- Sibling testing with an available parent
- Sibling testing without an available parent
Grandparent DNA Testing
Testing used to evaluate a possible biological relationship between a child and one or more alleged grandparents. This testing may be considered when a parent is unavailable for direct testing.
Avuncular DNA Testing
Testing used to evaluate a possible biological relationship between a child and an alleged aunt or uncle. This option may be considered when the alleged biological parent is unavailable for testing.
Twin Zygosity Testing
Testing used to determine whether twins are identical or fraternal.
Prenatal Paternity DNA Testing
Non-invasive prenatal paternity testing may be available through an approved DNA laboratory or clinical partner. Eligibility, gestational-age requirements, specimen requirements, provider involvement, pricing, and availability depend on the laboratory and clinical process.
A Nurse's Journey does not provide invasive prenatal testing.
Immigration DNA Collection
DNA specimen collection may be available for immigration-related cases when requested through an approved laboratory, attorney, government agency, embassy, consulate, or other authorized process. Immigration DNA testing must follow the instructions and chain-of-custody requirements established for the specific case.
A Nurse's Journey does not independently approve immigration cases or determine what evidence a government agency will accept.
Infidelity DNA Testing
Specialty DNA testing may be available for clients seeking laboratory analysis of an approved item or specimen. Availability, specimen acceptance, limitations, interpretation, and laboratory requirements vary.
Results may be limited or inconclusive depending on the specimen submitted.
Other Family-Relationship Testing
Availability depends on the participants available for testing and the laboratory's testing options.
- Family reconstruction testing
- Cousin relationship testing
- Extended family testing
- Kinship testing
- Other approved biological-relationship testing
The laboratory may recommend a specific test based on the relationship being evaluated, the participants available for testing, and the intended use of the results.
Choose the Right Type of DNA Test
Personal-Knowledge Testing
Intended for private information or peace of mind. Generally lower cost and faster turnaround. Results are not typically accepted for legal, court, immigration, or government purposes.
Legal DNA Testing
Follows documented identification, witnessed collection, chain-of-custody, specimen-security, and laboratory procedures. Required when results may be used in court, child-support, custody, immigration, or other official proceedings.
- Child-support matters
- Child-custody matters
- Court proceedings
- Birth-certificate changes
- Inheritance matters
- Immigration cases
- Other official or administrative purposes
Note: Clients should select legal testing when the results may be used for court, government, immigration, or another official purpose. Acceptance requirements are determined by the receiving court, agency, attorney, or organization.
How DNA Testing Works
Select the Testing Purpose
The client identifies the relationship being tested and whether the results are for personal knowledge, legal use, immigration, or another approved purpose.
Review Testing Requirements
A Nurse's Journey reviews the request and helps identify the appropriate collection process, identification requirements, participating individuals, laboratory requirements, and next steps. The final test selection may be determined or confirmed by the DNA laboratory.
Complete the Specimen Collection
DNA specimens are commonly collected using a painless cheek swab. Legal and official tests require documented identity verification, witnessed collection, chain-of-custody procedures, secure specimen handling, and shipment to the appropriate laboratory.
Laboratory Processing and Results
The DNA laboratory analyzes the specimens and provides results through its approved process. Turnaround times vary by test, specimen type, participant availability, laboratory procedures, and case requirements.
Professional DNA Collection at Your Approved Location
A Nurse's Journey offers convenient mobile DNA specimen-collection options for eligible clients and approved locations throughout Central Ohio.
Mobile collections may be available at:
- Private homes
- Attorney offices
- Approved community locations
- Senior living communities
- Assisted-living communities
- Group homes
- Healthcare facilities, when authorized
- Other approved locations
Mobile collection availability depends on the test, location, laboratory procedures, and participant requirements. Not all tests or locations can be guaranteed.
Group or organizational collections may be available for attorneys, agencies, or other approved entities coordinating multiple participants.
Who May Benefit from DNA Testing
Preparing for Your DNA Collection
Please bring the following to your DNA collection appointment.
Clients may be asked to provide:
- Government-issued photo identification
- Identification for participating adults
- Birth certificate or approved documentation for a minor
- Court, attorney, immigration, or agency paperwork
- Laboratory case number or collection kit
- Contact information for the requesting organization
- Signed consent from an authorized parent or legal guardian
- Additional documents required by the laboratory
Collection preparation
Participants may be asked to avoid eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum, or using tobacco products for a specified period before a cheek-swab collection. Final preparation instructions should be confirmed before the appointment.
Testing for Minors
DNA testing involving a minor requires appropriate authorization and consent from a parent, legal guardian, court, agency, or other authorized individual. Documentation requirements vary by test and laboratory.
Your Privacy Matters
DNA testing involves highly sensitive personal and family information. A Nurse's Journey follows appropriate privacy, specimen-handling, identity-verification, and chain-of-custody procedures based on the selected service. Results are issued through the DNA laboratory's approved process. A Nurse's Journey does not publicly disclose testing information or results and does not release information to unauthorized individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book a DNA Testing Service
Complete the form below to request a DNA testing service. Submitting this form is a request only — it does not confirm an appointment, reserve a test, or guarantee availability.
Service Request Notice
Submitting this form is a request for information and service availability. It does not confirm an appointment, laboratory order, test selection, legal acceptance, price, collection date, or result date.
Services are subject to laboratory availability, participant eligibility, proper consent, identification requirements, documentation, location, chain-of-custody procedures, and applicable legal requirements.
Do not use this form to upload identification, court records, immigration documents, birth certificates, DNA results, payment information, or other sensitive records.
Professional, Respectful, and Confidential DNA Collection
DNA testing can provide important information for individuals and families. A Nurse's Journey offers professional specimen collection and guidance designed to make the testing process clear, respectful, and convenient.