No, a standard “at-home” test is generally not admissible in court because there is no independent verification of whose DNA was collected. For a result to be legally binding—such as for child maintenance disputes or Department of Home Affairs registration—a strict “chain of custody” must be followed where a neutral third party collects the samples.

South African law generally requires the consent of the person submitting the sample; if the child is a minor, the mother or legal guardian must consent. However, if a father disputes paternity in a maintenance court case, the magistrate can issue a directive requiring him to submit to a blood or DNA test or face legal inferences about his credibility.

Peace of Mind” test allows you to collect your own samples at home for personal knowledge, whereas a “Legal” test requires identity verification (ID books/passports) and witnessed collection. The laboratory technology used is identical, but the collection protocol differs.

DNA paternity tests are extremely accurate, typically offering a probability of paternity of 99.99% or higher for inclusions (proof of fatherhood) and 100% for exclusions (proof he is not the father). This high precision is achieved by analyzing specific genetic markers (loci).

Turnaround times vary significantly; international labs may take 2–3 weeks due to shipping samples abroad. Local processing is generally faster.

Costs in South Africa can range widely depending on whether the test is for peace of mind or legal purposes, and whether samples are shipped overseas

Yes, this is possible through “relationship testing” using other family members. An Aunt/Uncle test (testing the father’s sibling) or a Grandparentage test (testing the father’s parents) can statistically infer paternity.

Many generic global tests focus on European databases and lack detail for African populations. South Africans often want specific insights into their diverse heritage