There are two types of relationships that siblings can share: Full siblingship and Half siblingship. Full Siblings will share two common parents and Half Siblings will share just one common parent. A siblingship test provides the likelihood of genetic relationship between two possible siblings, specifically when no other relatives are available for study. Please note that a grandparentage or reconstruction test is more definitive than a siblingship test, especially if the mother is not involved.

Full Siblingship WITH a Common Parent Participating

A full siblingship test can be performed if the two individuals (Sibling 1, Sibling 2) know they share the same mother, but want to know if they share the same father (who is unavailable for testing). Test conducted on two (2) Full Siblings and Mother.

Full Siblingship WITHOUT a Common Parent Participating

We can perform a full siblingship test even if the mother is not available for testing. The mother’s participation is always encouraged for more conclusive results. Test conducted on two (2) Full Siblings only.

Half Siblingship WITH Two Parents (not in common) Participating

A half siblingship test is performed if the two individuals (Sibling 1, Sibling 2) know they have different mothers but want to know if they share the same father (who is unavailable for testing). Test is conducted on two (2) Half Siblings and two (2) Mothers

Half Siblingship WITHOUT Parents Participating

We can perform a half siblingship test even if one or both mothers are not available for testing. However, a mother’s participation is always encouraged for more conclusive results. Test is conducted on two (2) Half Siblings only.

Turnaround Time

Five (5) business days from receipt of all samples

Chain-of-Custody Requirements

Chain-of-custody requirements must be fulfilled for test results to be defensible in any legal situation, such as inheritance disputes. These requirements include the following:
Samples are collected by a neutral third party, such as a clinic or laboratory
The individuals tested are positively identified (i.e., they present a government-issued ID to be photocopied and/or they are photographed and fingerprinted)
A standard DNA kit is used. Each party completes and signs a Client Identification and Consent Form
Guardianship of tested minor must be verified at the time of signing consent
The kit may not be in the possession of the clients prior to or after being collected

Non-Chain-of-Custody Requirements

In a non-chain of custody test, samples are collected by the patients themselves (or by collection site). Results of this test are for personal knowledge only and may not be used for legal purposes
An in-home kit is used, and buccal samples can be collected by the patients themselves (or by collection site) at a time and place of their choosing
Since the origin of the samples cannot be verified, names are listed on the report in the same way they are labeled on the samples
A unique barcode is assigned to each kit and appear on the report as a reference for the case
Barcoded kits are assigned to your account for easy reference

Notes

Generally speaking, biological-relationship testing such as genetic reconstruction and siblingship testing is not as definitive as DNA parentage testing. It is not possible to determine with absolute certainty whether two people are siblings or biologically related in some way other than the parent-child relationship. We can only test whether they are more or less likely to be related
Including any biological parent, such as the mother, increases the probability of obtaining conclusive results. Results may be inconclusive without her participation and further testing with additional relatives may be suggested by the laboratory
Results show a Combined Siblingship Index, a statistical value showing the genetic odds in favor of the relationship and a probability of siblingship in the form of a percentage. This number represents the number of times that the tested individuals are more likely than not to be biologically related as siblings in the manner it was tested