Other kinship

Kinship Testing

A kinship investigation may serve several purposes. Most commonly, it involves clarifying an unresolved paternity question concerning a child (or an adult) when the alleged father is unavailable for testing.

In such cases, close relatives of the alleged father may be tested instead. If the analysis demonstrates a close genetic relationship between the child and, for example, the man’s siblings, conclusions can be drawn regarding the man’s paternity. Testing the man’s parents or other children may also provide important information.

The number of relatives who participate — and their biological relationship to the alleged father — significantly influences the strength of the results. In general, the more close relatives who participate, the more accurately the man’s genetic profile and possible DNA variants can be assessed.

Sibling Testing

Kinship testing may also be used to clarify sibling relationships, for example:

• Are we half-siblings or full siblings?

• Do we share the same father?

In many cases, uncertainty about paternity is the underlying reason for requesting a sibling test.

Importance of the Mother’s Participation

In all kinship investigations, the evidential strength of the test is significantly improved if:

• The mother of the child participates, and

• The mother(s) of any potential half-siblings also participate.

Including the mother(s) helps distinguish which genetic variants (alleles) originate from the mother and which from the biological father, increasing the reliability of the conclusion.

Establishing Maternity

In certain specific situations, maternity testing may also be relevant.

Consent Requirements

All participants in a kinship investigation must provide informed consent.

For children under 15 years of age, consent must be given by a parent with parental responsibility.

Before Ordering a Test

We strongly recommend contacting us by phone before ordering a kinship test. We will provide guidance on:

• How your specific family relationship can best be clarified using DNA analysis

• The likelihood of obtaining a conclusive result

• Which participants should be included to ensure the strongest possible evidential value

Examples of Common Questions

Half-Sibling Test

Question: “We have different mothers but wonder whether we share the same father.”

Answer: This test can be performed. We recommend that your mothers participate if possible to increase the reliability of the results.

Full-Sibling Test

Question: “We share the same mother but are unsure whether we have the same father.”

Answer: This test can be performed. We recommend that the mother participates, if possible, to strengthen the evidential value of the analysis.

Aunt/Uncle/Niece/Nephew Test

Question: “The possible father is deceased, but his brother or sister is alive. Can testing the child and the deceased man’s sibling clarify paternity?”

Answer: Yes, such testing can provide important information. We recommend that the child’s mother participates if possible. If the deceased alleged father has multiple siblings, a more reliable conclusion can be reached if at least two siblings participate.

Further Information

• Read more: Information on kinship investigations (PDF)

• Tax Office guide: Personal ID number for obtaining a passport

Order a Kinship Test

Please call us before placing an order

• Telephone: +47 23 01 31 50
• Opening hours: 09:00–11:30 and 12:30–15:00

Price: NOK 1,750 per participant

Procedure: See “Procedure for Ordering a DNA Test”

Order Form: Order of Kinship / Twin DNA Profile from OUS (PDF)

For additional assistance, please see our contact information.