Y-Chrom (Y-STR) Testing

This DNA test is often used to provide additional evidence in difficult paternity situations in which the alleged father is not available for testing—indirectly, it can tell you whether or not a child is related to the alleged father’s brother(s) and other male relatives who share a common paternal line.

Unlike DNA tests for ancestry, the Y-STR comparison test provides scientific confirmation of more recent relationships—for example, if you have identified a possible relative from genealogy research and want to confirm your relationship. This Y-STR comparative analysis will tell you whether or not your Y-STRs are consistent, or not consistent, with the conclusion that you and the possible relative(s) may be related through a common male ancestor.

In a paternity situation where the alleged father is missing, Y-STR analysis cannot distinguish a specific relationship between males who belong to the same paternal line. However, it is useful for excluding males from an alleged biological relationship. For example, if a male child and his alleged uncle (alleged father’s full brother) are tested, their Y-STR profiles must match. If they do not, then the alleged uncle is excluded (not considered a biological uncle) and the alleged father is probably not the biological father.

There are two types of DNA tests available: legal and private. Our fully accredited laboratory follows the same rigorous high quality standards when processing both legal and private cases; the only difference is in the documentation procedures at the time of collection.

Legal, court-admissible cases require a chain of custody of the sample, which must be drawn from an approved Canadian DNA Services collection site. When DNA test results will be used for legal purposes, such as child support, social security, or custody matters, Legal DNA tests are required. Legal testing requires scheduling a collection appointment.

Private DNA tests provide the same information as a legal DNA test; but they are not intended for use in a court of law and are not considered court-admissible. They do not have special collection requirements and can be collected in the privacy of your home.

If you need a legal DNA test done, you can choose to come into one of our convenient testing locations across Canada or have a mobile unit sent to your home or work. During the collection process, the individuals tested are positively identified through photographs and government-issued identification. Certified DNA specialists collect the DNA by doing a simple and painless mouth swab from the inside of the cheek. All information is documented on a Chain of Custody, which ensures all test results are accredited and legally admissible.

Private DNA tests are treated the same as legal DNA tests in the laboratory, and they’re just as accurate. The difference is you can collect the DNA yourself in the comfort of your own home. You’ll receive your kit in the mail along with easy-to-follow instructions, collection envelopes, mouth swabs and a Chain of Custody form.  We also include a self-addressed envelope so you can send back your samples for testing.

If you have further questions, please view the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact a Certified DNA Specialist toll-free at 1-877-477-5661.