Overview
What Is the Grandparentage Test?
The Grandparentage Test establishes the biological relationship between a child and their grandparents. Every child inherits approximately half of their genetic profile from each parent — and therefore a quarter from each grandparent.
This test is most commonly used when a parent is missing or deceased and direct paternity or maternity testing is not possible. It provides an indirect but scientifically valid method to establish biological lineage.
How It Works
Paternal & Maternal Grandparentage
Paternal Grandparentage
The most common grandparentage scenario involves testing the alleged father’s biological parents — the paternal grandparents.
- The child and both paternal grandparents must be included.
- The mother is strongly encouraged to participate — this allows the lab to eliminate her genetic contribution, making results more definitive.
- If the mother cannot participate, the test is still valid but results may be less conclusive.
Maternal Grandparentage
When a mother is unavailable for direct maternity testing, her biological parents can be tested instead.
- The child and both of the alleged mother’s parents are tested.
- Used when the child’s alleged mother is not available for maternity testing.
Results
What the Results Show
Result Accuracy
- Grandparents can be conclusively excluded if their genes do not match the child’s on at least 3 DNA markers.
- When the child and both grandparents are tested, the average probability of relationship exceeds 99%.
- Results are available in 3–5 working days from sample receipt.
- Available for both personal and legal purposes.