Paternity tests serve to confirm or rule out whether a particular individual has a biological relationship with another and is generally requested for two reasons:

In general terms, the difference between the legal paternity test and the non-legal one is the protocol for taking the sample. In the case of non-legal, can be anonymous, the laboratory only analyzes the family relationship between two samples received and has no control or certainty of where the samples come from, since it is allowed to take the sample at home and the origin of these samples It is the responsibility of the person who takes them and therefore seeks to know if there is this biological relationship, such as paternity, abuelity, brotherhood and motherhood

However, the test of self-knowledge does not have legal validity for any procedure, demand or procedure for what one wants to use.

The legal test, however, has a protocol for taking a very strict sample where it is documented and carried out in front of witnesses. In addition, the chain of custody must be taken care of and a series of procedures must be followed to ensure the integrity and reliability of the result. In the case of legal proof at the end there is not only a report, but an extensive and detailed dictation of the case made by the laboratory’s expert.

The legal paternity test is requested for various reasons, among which

• Recognition or ignorance of paternity to establish alimony, change of surnames, among others.
• Family inheritance
• Immigration procedures, where it is requested to verify the family link
• Custody of the minor

The fundamental difference between legal and non-legal is that in the legal sample taking is documented, it is done under the judgment and request of a judge, the sample is made in front of witnesses, the identity of the persons is verified, photo-documentation is documented and the chain of custody is guaranteed.