Good Parenting

While blood samples may indeed be used for paternity testing, in-home kits, whether for legal or peace of mind purposes, utilize the quick and painless buccal swab method. Resembling a long cotton swab, the end of the swab is coated with a special material that allows buccal, or cheek, cells to adhere to the surface and then be removed for DNA testing. This simple process allows people to test for paternity in the privacy of their own home giving them the same accurate results that a blood test would.

DNA Explained

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or more familiarly, DNA, is responsible for determining genetic factors such as eye and hair color, and is present within every single solitary cell inside of the human body. Half of DNA is inherited by the father, and the other from the mother, combining together to make one unique pattern that is able to be analyzed to determine if the cells from one person contain the same DNA as those from another.

Paternity is established if samples from the father and child are found to have more than a certain number of the same genetic markers on their DNA. Tests today have the ability to prove the probability that a man fathered a child with 99.9% accuracy and are also able to prove with 100% certainty that a man is NOT the biological parent of a child.

Legal or Peace of Mind DNA Paternity Tests?

Legal DNA paternity tests are needed for specific circumstances, like settling family law disputes, which would include issues such as child custody, child support, and visitation. Legal paternity tests may also be used for resolving matters of inheritance disputes.

When legal issues aren’t of any concern and learning the paternity of a child is purely for personal knowledge, in-home paternity tests that are referred to as peace of mind tests are all that are necessary as the results are exactly the same, but the extra cost of the legal chain of custody process is eliminated, which is necessary for results to be admissible in court.

Testing Costs

Because of the highly scientific methods used for extracting and identifying DNA, most people are convinced that paternity testing isn’t within their realm of possibilities due to the exorbitant cost. However, thanks to the vast knowledge on the subject of genetics and the refinement of the process of testing DNA in recent years, it’s definitely possible for the average person to make use of this scientific breakthrough that has changed the world dramatically in terms of not only being able to easily establish paternity, but also for matters of criminal law.

Many DNA testing companies provide in-home testing kits completely free of charge, including postage costs, with the expense being for the laboratory fees, or if it’s a legal paternity test, there will be additional chain of custody fees as well.

Choosing a Testing Laboratory

Besides the issue of total costs, choosing a DNA testing laboratory should be based on the experience of their staff and whether or not they are accredited by any agencies or committees that oversee their work, ensuring that the correct protocols are consistently met. One such organization is the Parentage Committee of the American Association of Blood Banks, or the AABB, which sets certain testing standards that labs they accredit are required to meet.