DNA Test - Ames, IA
Health Street offers DNA testing, legal paternity tests, and sibling DNA tests in Ames, Iowa at a centrally located testing laboratory. Register now, or call us at (515) 298-5478 or schedule online. with any questions. Our paternity testing (including grandparent DNA tests, avuncular (aunt or uncle) testing, and postmortem DNA testing) determines if two or more people are related.
Schedule your Ames DNA test appointment online. Our legal DNA test results can be used in court for matters such as: child support, birth certificates, and custody cases. Appointments can be scheduled together or separately. Legal DNA tests are done by cheek swab at our testing centers. We also offer home DNA test kits for peace of mind. DNA can be tested from hair, fingernails, and other specimens.
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DNA Test - Ames, Iowa
Types of DNA Tests at our Ames, Iowa locations:
The most commonly ordered DNA test is a Paternity Test to conclusively establish whether or not a man is the biological father of a child.
Paternity Testing can be performed at our testing centers. DNA Testing can be done for other close family relationships, such as:
Specimens we can test for DNA
The easiest and most reliable way to obtain a DNA sample for paternity testing is to swab the inner cheeks of the people being tested. These skin cells are known as buccal cells, and they rub off easily onto cotton swabs and remain in place for analysis by our laboratory. Other specimen samples, such as hair follicles, fingernails, and garments that might contain someone's DNA, can also be tested. An Alternative Specimen DNA Test is done by registering online and shipping the specimens to us.
Legally Admissible DNA Tests vs. "Peace of Mind" At-Home Tests
A Legal Paternity Test is a court admissible DNA testing service. Accurate results for DNA paternity testing with 99.99% confidence or greater take about a week.
When deciding which type of DNA test is right for you, consider first what you might do with the results. In order for the results of a DNA test to hold up in court, for child support, or to change the name on a birth certificate, the test must be done at a clinic using strict chain of custody procedures. Our Ames DNA testing technicians are trained to follow guidelines that ensure that the results can be used for legal purposes.
How to schedule a DNA Test in Ames IA
Scheduling a DNA test at one of our Ames clinics is simple and fast, and we often have appointments available in the same week. It's always helpful to schedule in advance to make sure you get the time you want. Register online, or please call our customer service team, which can help you book your appointment over the phone.
We have state of the art testing labs and friendly clinics that perform the DNA sample collection in Ames, plus many more locations throughout Iowa and all across the United States. Not every one of our clinics performs paternity testing in Ames. We'll show you the nearest locations to get a DNA test in Ames, IA so you can choose the testing center that is most convenient. When you register, you can also pick the appointment time and date that you prefer.
Why Health Street
Over a Decade of Experience
Health Street has been performing DNA testing nationally since 2010. We have helped thousands of people from Ames to communities all across the USA get DNA tests and paternity tests.
Ames, IA - DNA Testing
Ames Woman Uses DNA Test to Find Her Father After 30 Years
For more than 30 years, Ames resident Kristene Feldhaus didn't know much about her father. When she was just three years old, he left her and her mother, fleeing the state after allegedly robbing a Story County bank. Then, he essentially disappeared. For nearly three decades, the family had no communication with him. Feldhaus said, "The whole family pretty much had no idea where Dad went to."
Finally, a DNA test solved the mystery. The results led her to an archived story from the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, which revealed that her father, James Wray Miller, had died while trying to save three people who were drowning in the Sacramento River. At the time, he was categorized as a "John Doe" and his ashes were held at a coroner's office. By comparing DNA test results from Miller, Feldhaus, and Feldhaus's grandmother, his identity was confirmed. Feldhaus was able to retrieve the ashes and says she feels better knowing her "dad passed away trying to help people and trying to do the right thing."
Iowa's Voluntary Paternity Affidavit Program
According to information provided by Iowa State University in Ames, the state's Voluntary Paternity Affidavit Program is a free and easy way for unmarried parents to establish legal paternity. It can be done at the hospital when the child is born or at a later date. Unlike many states, there is no time limit for using a VPA to establish paternity.
While establishing paternity does not automatically give a man visitation and custody rights, he must have taken this step before he can petition the courts to establish these rights. A legal father also has an obligation to provide financial support for his child. Once paternity is established, the child's mother can request an order for child support and medical support.
Dis-establishing Paternity in Iowa
If a mother is married when her child is born, her husband automatically becomes the child's legal father, even if he is not the biological father. If a husband believes another man has fathered the child, he can petition the courts to disestablish paternity.
It is also possible to rescind a voluntary affidavit of paternity. This is often done if a man signs an affidavit and then later has doubts that he is the child's biological father. In this case, he can sign a cancellation/rescission affidavit within 60 days of signing the original affidavit or within 20 days of receiving court documents regarding child support or custody (whichever comes first). The recession form can be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health and filed with the State Registrar. In Ames, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services office is located at 126 S Kellogg Ave #101. In this case, the man will need to submit to DNA testing to prove that he is not the child's father.
Last updated 4/13/2023
Locations
Neighborhoods in Ames Served by our Clinics
Additional Services
Health Street offers a variety of other services, including: