Paternity testing / Testing of familial relationship

Kinship analysis

Contact and information

For more information, please send an e-mail to: dna@ugent.be

Telephone contact is only possible for exceptional reasons at the number 09/332 36 03.

what is kinship analysis?

Kinship testing examines whether individuals are genetically related. The most common kinship test is a paternity test.

In the context of family reunification, the Immigration Department may also request an investigation into the exact nature of the family relationship between the person in Belgium ( with Belgian nationality) and the newcomer.

At the Centre for Medical Genetics at Ghent University Hospital, we distinguish between (1) judicial kinship investigation and (2) non-judicial kinship investigation. The procedures differ.

Judicial kinship investigation

Judicial decision and invitation for sample collection

The request for the kinship test is based on a judicial decision made by the court of first instance (family court), the court of appeal, the justice of the peace or the public prosecutor's office. This decision is sent by the clerk of the court (via registered mail) to the court experts at our center.

All parties involvedwill receive a registered letter from the Medical Genetics Centre. The individuals required for the DNA test will be invited for the sample collection (a cheek swab from the child and a blood sample from the adults). The lawyers involved will be informed by regular mail.

Sample Collection

Sample collection for judicial investigations takes place on Thursday afternoons.

All parties are invited at the same time, though in exceptional cases, separate arrangements can be made. In such cases, a photograph will be taken for identification purposes.

If one of the parties is deceased, it may be necessary to obtain a sample from another laboratory.

On the day of sample collection, parties should report to the Medical Genetics reception desk, Entrance 81 (clinic building 5, ground floor, 0K5), route number 805, UZ Gent. The identity of each person is carefully registered by copying their identity card. The address, phone number, and email address will be confirmed.

A blood sample will be taken from the adults. For the child, a small amount of cheek mucus is collected using a cheek swab. We ask that no sugary products or milk be consumed for an hour and a half before the cheek swab to avoid issues with DNA quality.

Cancellations are only allowed for valid reasons. If an appointment cannot be kept, at least 24 hours' notice must be given by email to dna@ugent.be. Otherwise, an administration fee of €15 (excluding 21% VAT) will be charged.

Kinship testing results

It takes approximately 6 weeks to receive the results. A preliminary report will be prepared and sent to the lawyers (or, if there is no lawyer, to the individuals involved) who then have three weeks to provide comments.

After this period, if no comments are received, the final report will be filed with the lawyers and the court clerk. Any comments will be incorporated into the final report.

Cost of kinship testing

The cost of kinship testing is €400 per person.

To ensure quality, we also test the mother. therefore, the cost for DNA testing for three people (child + mother + father) is €1200.

The invoice will be sent after the consultation and delivered to the court.

For urgent procedures where the result are available within 10 working days after the samples arrive in the lab, an additional fee of €350 is charged.

Emergency procedure for DNA test of recently deceased person

Samples can only be collected after the emergency procedure has been initiated by a lawyer, and the expert has received permission (by court order) to collect a sample post-mortem under the supervision of a bailiff. An additional charge of €350 applies for initiating this emergency procedure.

Non-judicial kinship screening:

Appointment and invitation

Requests for kinship tests without court involvement should be made via email to dna@ugent.be.

The consultations are held every Thursday afternoon.

All parties involved are invited at the same time and will receive written confirmation of the appointment by mail or email.

Consultation and sample collection

On the day of the consultation, please register directly at the reception desk of the Medical Genetics Department, Entrance 81 (Clinic Building K5). There is no need to pass through the central reception desk (the ticket office) first. We will make a copy of your identity card and birth certificate, and record your contact details (address, phone number, email address).

During the initial consultation, we will discuss your questions and assess whether we can proceed with the test. We will also consider the emotional and practical implications of the test and ensure that it can be performed technically. The results will be available approximately 6 weeks after sample collection. We will discuss with you how the results will be communicated, with the condition that the full invoice has been paid.

Adults (+18 years old).

Adults can request a kinship test independently. The test can proceed if all parties involved agree.

Minors (-18 year olds)

For minors, the best interest and well-being of the child are always prioritized. This will be explored during the initial interview.

Furthermore, a voluntary paternity test for minors can only be performed under the following conditions:

• Presentation of the birth certificate
• All legal parents listed on the birth certificate must be present during the consultation
• The legal parents must mutually agree to the paternity test

Kinship analysis results

Results will be communicated to you in person during a consultation or by phone at a pre-arranged time. You are not expected to contact us to inquire about the results. Additionally, results will not be communicated by email. If the invoice has not been paid, the results cannot be released.

Cost of kinship analysis

The cost of kinship analysis is €400 per person.

To ensure quality, we also test the mother (€ 100).

Therefore, the cost for a DNA test for three persons (child + father + mother) is €900.

After the initial consultation, the invoice will be sent by post or email to the responsible party.

For urgent procedures where the results are available within 10 working days after receipt of the samples in the laboratory, an additional charge of € 350 applies.

For other types of relationship testing, please contact us via email for information regarding costs.