The Minnesota judge overseeing the Prince estate case has authorized genetic testing on a sample of his blood in case it's necessary to determine who's entitled to shares of the estate.

Carver County District Judge Kevin Eide on Friday granted a request by the special administrator overseeing the estate, Bremer Trust, to hire DNA Diagnostics Centre to perform the genetic testing on a blood sample.

The sample is currently being held by the medical examiner's office that conducted the autopsy on Prince.

Prince died April 21 at his recording studio home in suburban Minneapolis. The cause remains under investigation.

In his order, the judge says he's "recognizing that parentage issues might arise" in the administration of Prince's estate.

He authorized the medical examiner to release the blood sample to the testing laboratory.