| Whilst the awareness about DNA Paternity | | | | practitioner or nurse) who will be |
| testing has greatly increased throughout most | | | | responsible to verify and authenticate the |
| of the world, there is still a lot of | | | | samples. The actual result of the paternity |
| information about the test that is not known. | | | | in terms of the biological relationship will |
| | | | not differ. |
| The following are the five top things to know | | | | |
| about a DNA Paternity Test: | | | | 3. Always select a properly accredited |
| | | | laboratory |
| 1. Most accurate method of determining | | | | |
| biological relationships | | | | Always chose to do your paternity test |
| | | | through a company that uses an ISO17025 and |
| A DNA Paternity test is the most accurate way | | | | or AABB accredited laboratory. This will |
| of determining a biological relationship | | | | ensure the quality and accuracy of the |
| between an alleged father/mother and their | | | | results. Also make sure that when report the |
| child. Whilst in the past blood grouping | | | | result a full DNA profile is provided for the |
| analysis was used as a screening method, the | | | | 16 loci analysed, as well as the statistical |
| relevance of this test has been greatly | | | | probability of paternity. A simple Yes/No |
| reduced as the level of accuracy of this type | | | | answer should not be deemed acceptable. |
| of test is low compared to the result of a | | | | |
| DNA test. A DNA paternity test will provide | | | | 4. Paternity tests can be performed without |
| 100% certainty of exclusion and 99.9%+ | | | | the sample of the mother |
| probability of inclusion. | | | | |
| | | | To perform a DNA Paternity test the sample of |
| 2. Difference between an At-Home Paternity | | | | the Mother is not necessary to obtain an |
| Test and a Legal Paternity Test | | | | accurate result. However, when available, it |
| | | | is always recommended that the sample of the |
| The difference between an At-Home Paternity | | | | Mother is also provided. Only in specific |
| Test (also called Curiosity Test) and a Legal | | | | cases will the sample of the mother provide |
| Paternity Test is not the actual result but | | | | more accurate results such in the case of |
| the way in which the sample collection is | | | | gene mutation. Many companies offer to test |
| performed. For an At-Home Paternity test, a | | | | the mother at no extra charge. |
| home dna kit is normally sent to the | | | | |
| requesting party. The kit will normally | | | | 5. DNA can be obtained from a diverse range |
| include i) oral swabs to take the saliva | | | | of samples |
| sample, ii) documentation to provide relevant | | | | |
| information including consent iii) | | | | It is possible to obtain DNA from a number of |
| instructions and terms and conditions of | | | | other sources such as hair, blood, semen and |
| sale. The sample is taken by the parties | | | | items such as cigarette butts and a |
| themselves who are participating in the test. | | | | toothbrush. Whilst the current standard is to |
| In a Legal DNA Paternity Test, the sample | | | | use an oral swab to collect saliva samples, |
| collection must follow a strict chain of | | | | in cases where a person may not be physically |
| custody procedure. All samples need to be | | | | present, able or willing to donate a sample, |
| collected and documented by a independent | | | | then alternate samples can be obtained. |
| third party (normally a qualified general | | | | |