Paternity Testing The Basics

Paternity testing is used to establish the paternity of a child in an accurate and scientific manner. This type of DNA test can be done before the birth or after the birth of a child and can moreover, be used for legal, at home or immigration purposes. Any type of paternity test will provide a probability of paternity of 99.9% or higher if the alleged man is truly the father of the child.

The actual test involves analysis of the DNA profiles of alleged father and child; a child will have an identical DNA profile to his biological father and this degree of similarity cannot be replicated between close relatives such as uncle and nephew (there are rare exceptions and so seldom are these, that they do not warrant mention).

Paternity Testing after Birth

Paternity testing done after the birth of the child is simple and practical. DNA samples can be collected in the easiest way using mouth swabs. Swabs should be rubbed inside the mouth, under the tongue and against the cheek to collect thousands of cells that can then be used for laboratory analysis. The same method of sampling can be used for all test participants and does not require assistance of a doctor or nurse. A few basics steps and precautions must be taken before collecting the DNA samples such as not eating, drinking or smoking for one hour prior to testing. The DNA samples provided will be analysed in a laboratory using a method of DNA amplification and replication known as Polymerase Chain reaction. The result will be ready in just a few days. If the tested father is not the biological father, the probability of paternity will be 0%. As mentioned earlier, if the tested father is the biological father of the child the probability of paternity will be 99.9% or higher.

Paternity Testing in the Prenatal Stage

Prenatal paternity testing is more complex because it requires collecting DNA samples of the unborn child. DNA samples can be collected by means of certain risky procedures which entail a qualified OBGYN inserting a needle into the womb to collect the fetus’s DNA (these procedures are often referred to as “invasive”). Risks in these kinds of tests include anything from injuring the fetus’s limbs to miscarriage in the worst case scenario. Alternatively, fetal DNA can be collected from the mother’s blood. In this latter case, the sample required is a normal blood draw (these procedures are referred to as non-invasive because they are free of risk and entirely safe). Once the child’s DNA is collected it can then be analyzed and compared to that of the biological father and results of paternity testing issued.