We get calls about this every week. One part of the family is here in Southern California, and the person they want to test, often a father, lives in Mexico. Here is the good news: you do not have to be in the same country to get an answer. We collect from the local family members here, send a simple cheek-swab kit to your relative in Mexico, and analyze everything at the same lab. It is a peace of mind test, done for your own knowledge. Hablamos Espanol.
This will be a peace of mind test
Before anything else, it helps to know what kind of test this is.
A legal, court-admissible test requires a neutral, certified collector to witness every sample, check each person's ID, and keep an unbroken chain of custody all the way to the lab. We cannot send our technician across the border, so your family member in Mexico collects their own sample. That is what makes this a peace of mind test: it is for your family's own answers, not for court or immigration.
The DNA analysis and the accuracy are identical to a legal test. Same lab, same result. The only difference is how the samples are collected and what the result can be used for. Our guide on legal vs. peace of mind DNA tests explains the difference in plain language.
How a DNA test with someone in Mexico works
- You call or text us. Our Spanish-speaking team asks a few questions about who is being tested and where everyone lives.
- We collect from the local participants here in Southern California with a painless cheek swab, often the same day.
- We provide a cheek-swab kit for your family member in Mexico and explain exactly how to collect the sample and mail it back.
- They gently swab the inside of the cheek and return the kit to the lab.
- Once all samples arrive, results come back in a few business days, and we can review them with you in Spanish or English.
A common situation
The most frequent version we see is a mother and child here in Southern California, with the alleged father living in Mexico. Another is an adult child here who wants to confirm a biological relationship with a parent in Mexico. In every case, we coordinate both sides so nobody has to travel and no one has to cross the border for the test.
Hablamos Espanol
Our Spanish-speaking staff handle the whole process from start to finish. Your family member in Mexico gets clear instructions in their own language, and you can ask any question in Spanish or English. Language will never be the thing that stands between your family and an answer.
What about immigration or a court case?
This is important. If you need the result for immigration, a visa petition, child support, custody, or a birth certificate, a mail-in peace of mind test cannot be used. Those cases require a legal, AABB-accredited test with full chain of custody. Immigration testing in particular follows a specific process through approved labs and the U.S. embassy or consulate in Mexico. If that is what you need, call us and we will point you toward the correct process so you do not waste time or money.
The accuracy is the same across the border
A border does not change the science. A peace of mind test is 99.99%+ accurate for an inclusion and 100% conclusive for an exclusion, just like a legal test. For more on what those numbers mean, see how accurate a DNA paternity test really is.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a DNA test with someone who lives in Mexico?
Yes, as a peace of mind test. We collect from the local family members here in Southern California and send a simple cheek-swab kit to your relative in Mexico.
Is it accurate?
Yes. It is analyzed in the same lab with the same method, so it is 99.99%+ accurate. It is a peace of mind test because the sample in Mexico is self-collected.
Can I use it for immigration or court?
No. Immigration and court require a legal, AABB-accredited test with chain of custody, coordinated through approved labs and the embassy. We can guide you to that process.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Hablamos Espanol, and the entire process can be handled in Spanish.
How long does it take and how much is it?
Results are usually ready a few business days after all samples reach the lab. Cost depends on the number of participants, and mobile collection for the local person is included in our area. See our pricing page or call for a quote.
You do not have to be in the same country to get an answer. We collect from the local family member in Southern California and send a simple kit to your relative in Mexico. It is a peace of mind test, same lab and same accuracy, handled in Spanish or English. For immigration or court, ask us about the legal testing process instead.