A new do-it-yourself paternity kit administered at home can answer that question. The kit, which costs only $29.99 and can be administered at home, hit the market last November in California, Oregon, and Washington. The Identigene DNA Paternity Test Collection Kit, which uses cheek swabs from father and child, is under consideration for expansion into a more nationwide market.Once cheek swabs are collected, the two samples must then be sent to the manufacturer’s laboratory for DNA testing, which costs another $119. Results are mailed back in less than five days of lab time.

Accuracy is estimated at 99% but some members of the medical community urge caution nevertheless. There can be a great deal of emotional trauma when the results are not what is expected and counseling is urged, especially in the case of married couples receiving disturbing results.

Paternity testing procedures administered in a clinical setting instead of in the home often include professional counseling as needed. Evidence produced by the do-it-yourself test kits is not admissible in a court of law like the professional testing is.

Representatives from Identigene and Rite Aid, one of the pharmacy chains that sells the kits, report no more controversy surrounding the paternity testing kits than was associated with pregnancy, cholesterol, blood pressure, and drug kits for at-home use when they first became available.

Douglas Fogg, Identigene’s chief operating officer, says his company started in-home DNA testing in 1993 and distress over test results is rare.

According to Fogg, women buy 60% of the paternity testing kits, some of the time with their own paternity in mind. About 30% of the kits are sold to someone who will use it to test someone other than the purchaser him- or herself.

All 1,000 pharmacies that have the kits available report sales. Tests are also available online and through resell operations.