DNA paternity testing is a tool that enables proving or disproving a biological relationship between a child and a (potential) father. The test consists of taking a DNA sample of both individuals and then comparing them in order to determine whether they are a genetic match. Recently, DNA testing has shown big advancements and the public has been more aware of the procedure but the issue is there are a lot of unanswered questions frequently asked by the public and many facts they do not know or misinterpret about DNA paternity testing. These are the basic things you should understand about it:
1. The accuracy of DNA paternity testing
This is the most accurate way of determining paternity there is. Before DNA testing, analysis of blood groups was able to determine that an individual was not the father, but it couldn’t prove that an individual is the father. Contrary to that, DNA testing can prove that an individual is not the father with 100% accuracy, while the accuracy of somebody being the father is 99.9%. This means that the father (or anybody else) can’t claim the results are inaccurate – there can’t be multiple different versions of the paternity test – the test shows a black-and-white fact.
2. Different types of DNA paternity tests
There are two types of DNA paternity tests: legal and non-legal ones. Both tests are done in the same way: an oral swab is taken from inside of the person’s cheek and sent for testing. The difference between them is that the legal test can be used in court for different purposes, while the non-legal test can be done at home after collecting the necessary samples. You need to order the kit online, together with the instructions, to collect the samples and then send them for testing. This type of test cannot be used in court as there is no legal documentation proving it nor it was done in a laboratory or a hospital, which means that a nurse didn’t collect the samples, as is the case with the legal test.
3. When to expect the results
The majority of laboratories can get results within 2 or 3 days from the day they received the samples, but no more than a week. In case of an urgency (like adding a specific name to a legal document such as a birth certificate), there are certain methods which can speed up the process of acquiring results, providing the results within just one day. One thing to have in mind – in case of doing the non-legal test, it means mailing the samples to the laboratory, which could mean 7 days for getting the results are more realistic to expect.
4. The issue of the mother’s sample
In order to do a DNA paternity test, it isn’t necessary to have the mother’s sample. However, it is important to note that if a gene mutation occurs, it would be better to have the mother’s sample for a more precise accuracy.
5. Choosing the right DNA paternity testing company
As DNA testing methods and equipment have to be validated, it’s necessary to find a DNA paternity testing company that has been accredited by an institution that monitors their validity. This means that a reliable paternity test by an AABB accredited laboratory of a specific company is the only one that will be accepted in courts and government agencies. This type of laboratories conforms to ISO 17025, which means the results will be valid. It also means an individual will be given the statistical probability of paternity, not just a short report which says “Yes” or “No”.
6. Samples used for the DNA paternity testing
Even though inner cheek swabs are most commonly used for the test (typically called buccal swab collection), it is possible to use any body fluid or tissue containing DNA, such as hair, semen and blood, but also things such as a handkerchief of a cigarette butt. They provide the genetic profile of the individual, which is often very interesting to analyze. A blood sample is often used for a prenatal paternity test (before the baby is born) as a non-invasive procedure.
7. The cost
The cost of DNA paternity test can vary. In case of the legal test, the price goes somewhere between $300 and $500, including the collection of the samples, but not necessarily. On the other hand, the non-legal test is cheaper, varying between only $30 and $250, depending on whether the price of shipping the kit is included or not.
Bottom line
Of course, before taking the DNA paternity test, it is always advisable to consult a doctor or a genetic counselor in case you have additional questions before and after the test, if for no other reason than creating peace of mind.