DNA Paternity Testing - 5 Key Questions
You Should Ask Your DNA Testing Provider
Executive Sumary about paternity testing by Peter Vine
dna paternity testing
DNA paternity testing in its purest form is the application of DNA technology to provide information about the parentage of an individual (usually a child). The mother of the child is rarely disputed, and most of the time DNA testing is requested to inform the likely father of a child.
This pattern of inheritance allows the opportunity where the mother of the child is not disputed, to produce a putative DNA profile of the biological father. If the mother’s bands are deducted from the child profile the remainder must come from the biological father. Any male that may consider himself the father can have a DNA profile produced and compared against the remaining bands in the child’s profile.
The first is a ‘no-match’ scenario where the remaining bands in the child’s profile could not have come from the sample obtained from the alleged father. The second is a ‘match’ scenario where the remaining bands in the child’s profile could all be accounted for by comparison with the alleged father. Before you commission any Paternity DNA testing you should be sure you have clear answers to the following key questions:
1. Has the DNA testing facility been accredited by a validated external body such as the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).
2. Does the company carrying out the DNA testing have a thorough track-record in this area of work, and have they proved their technology in court? Be wary of companies that sub-contract their testing. DNA profile interpretation can be a tricky business, and there is a lot at stake when you commission a DNA test, and you want reassurance on the reliability of your service provider.
3. What degree of certainty does the company provide in relation to the results of the tests? If you want to find out more about DNA Paternity Testing click on the links in the author section below.
Paternity Testing - Are You Raising Someone Else’s Child?
Executive Sumary about paternity testing by Pete McFraser
The dawn of the DNA test
Paternity testing has become a lot easier and affordable over the past few years due to advances in DNA science. Although an estimated 200,000 DNA tests are conducted each year by states needing to sort child-support and welfare issues, few people are willing to conduct their own at-home paternity test. They don’t realize the simplicity and convenience of an at-home paternity test.
How does a home DNA test work?
Paternity testing requires a painless sample from both the child and possible father. Even without a sample from the mother, DNA paternity test results are up to 99.9999% accurate-that’s one-in-a-million odds your results are incorrect. By gently massaging the inside of the child’s mouth, cheek cells are collected.
Labs analyze up to sixteen genetic markers of the child and match them against the markers of the alleged father. Because each of us receives half our genetic markers from each parent, the results of DNA paternity testing are still accurate without the DNA information of the mother. Most labs will have results in 10 days and charge about $290 for a basic paternity verification test.
What else can a DNA test do?
Legal tests can be used to settle adoption issues, settle child-support disputes, and provide information for immigration files.
How to choose a DNA laboratory
Accredited labs have an annual audit and inspection, undergo internal and external reviews, and have their equipment calibrated for accuracy. Some companies will charge you for the kit and then charge you again for the results.
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