Discover biological connections between cousins with advanced genetic testing—perfect for genealogy research or family confirmation.
Our Cousin DNA Test analyzes genetic markers to determine if two individuals share enough DNA to be biological cousins. This test is ideal for genealogy research, adoption cases, or confirming suspected family relationships.
Unlike paternity tests that give definitive "yes/no" answers, cousin testing provides a probability percentage indicating how likely you are to be related as cousins, based on shared DNA segments.
Common reasons for cousin testing:
Our lab analyzes hundreds of thousands of genetic markers for the most accurate cousin relationship prediction available.
Detects 1st, 2nd, 3rd cousins and beyond with probability estimates.
Examines 700,000+ DNA markers for precise results.
Helps build family trees when parents aren't available.
Cousins share DNA through their common grandparents. The amount of shared DNA decreases with each generation, making precise analysis crucial for accurate results.
We use SNP microarray technology to examine hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across your genome. These genetic markers are compared to calculate the total amount of shared DNA and determine the most likely relationship.
Results will indicate:
| Relationship | Average Shared DNA | Possible Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Cousins | 12.5% | 7.31%-13.8% |
| 1st Cousins 1x Removed | 6.25% | 3.3%-8.51% |
| 2nd Cousins | 3.13% | 2.85%-5.04% |
| 3rd Cousins | 0.78% | 0.3%-2.0% |
Easy sample collection with professional laboratory analysis.
Choose between at-home or legal test kit with expedited options.
Collect sample with easy swab collection kit or inform us we will arrange professional to collect sample at your location.
Advanced SNP microarray testing comparing 700,000+ markers.
Detailed report with shared DNA percentages and relationship probabilities.
Common questions about cousin DNA testing
Our cousin tests are highly accurate at detecting shared DNA segments, with precision increasing when more genetic markers are analyzed. For 1st cousins, we typically achieve 90-95% confidence in predictions. Accuracy decreases with more distant relationships—2nd cousin predictions are about 80-85% confident, while 3rd cousins are 50-60%. Testing additional known relatives can significantly improve accuracy.
Yes, our analysis can often distinguish between full and half-cousin relationships based on the amount of shared DNA. Full cousins typically share about 12.5% of their DNA (range: 7.31%-13.8%), while half-cousins share about 6.25% (range: 3.3%-8.51%). When results fall in the overlapping range, testing additional relatives from both sides of the family can help clarify the relationship.
DNA inheritance is random, so cousins sometimes share significantly more or less DNA than average. If you share less DNA than expected for your suspected relationship, it could mean:
Our genetic counselors can help interpret unexpected results and recommend next steps.
Our advanced cousin DNA testing provides the answers you need about your biological relationship.
