| Top 10 DNA Paternity Testing Myths... | | | | painless. |
| 10. "A $99 test is the right choice for me." | | | | 8. "I have to wait until the baby is born to have a |
| 9. "I can't stand the sight of blood or needles, so I | | | | paternity test done." |
| could never participate in a paternity test!" | | | | Prenatal paternity testing can be done as early as |
| 8. "I have to wait until the baby is born to have a | | | | the 10th week of the pregnancy until as late as |
| paternity test done." | | | | the 24th week of the pregnancy. A chorionic villi |
| 7. "If I get a test, people will find out about it." | | | | sampling (CVS), in which cells are collected from |
| 6. "Paternity testing divides families." | | | | the placenta, or an amniocentesis can be |
| 5. "Paternity testing takes too long. I need results | | | | performed to collect loose fetal cells to be used in |
| now." | | | | a DNA paternity test. There are slight medical |
| 4. "My ex-boyfriend is gone. Without him, we will | | | | risks for these invasive procedures and a medical |
| never know who the father of my child is!" | | | | professional must perform them. Some |
| 3. "I cannot do a paternity test because the | | | | companies claim to be able to perform |
| potential father of my child lives hundreds of miles | | | | non-invasive testing of the mother's blood to |
| away from me." | | | | determine paternity. However, these tests are |
| 2. "It doesn't matter where a paternity test is | | | | not scientifically validated and are not endorsed by |
| performed because all labs are created equal." | | | | AABB-accredited laboratories. |
| 1. "Paternity testing is expensive." | | | | 7. "If I get a test, people will find out about it." |
| MYTHS REVEALED... | | | | Each case is unique and should be handled with |
| 10. "A $99 test is the right choice for me." | | | | the utmost confidentiality. The procedures should |
| A $99 paternity test can be more expensive to | | | | be private and discrete. At a private laboratory |
| the consumer in the long run. These tests do not | | | | like DDC (DNA Diagnostics Center), your results |
| hold up in court. They are generally not reliable | | | | are confidential. However, if you go through a child |
| because the testing could be done outside | | | | support agency, your results will be public record. |
| industry protocols and/or performed by | | | | Also, if the case goes to court, a judge may |
| inexperienced staff, which could lead to results | | | | need to see the results. With a privately |
| that are interpreted incorrectly leading to false | | | | conducted test, once you receive the results, you |
| results. If you are inquiring about a paternity test | | | | decide what to do with them. |
| for any legal matter, further testing would have | | | | 6. "Paternity testing divides families." |
| to be done, which would require more fees. | | | | Paternity testing has many benefits. It is used in |
| Wouldn't it be better to pay only once for | | | | adoption, immigration, genealogy and other |
| something so important? | | | | family-building cases. Testing benefits the child in |
| 9. "I can't stand the sight of blood or needles, so I | | | | cases where paternity must be verified for |
| could never participate in a paternity test!" | | | | inheritance or insurance purposes and in cases |
| While a blood sample can be used, most labs use | | | | that involve child support. It's true that you do |
| a painless buccal swab to collect sample DNA | | | | need to prepare for the results; the important |
| from inside the participant's cheek. The swab is | | | | thing, however, is to be able to move forward |
| similar to a cotton swab, but is made of a | | | | once you know the truth. |
| material called Dacron, which creates a consistent | | | | Please continue to Top 10 Myths About DNA |
| surface for the cheek cells to adhere to. As | | | | Paternity Testing for more information on the |
| mentioned above, this collection process is | | | | Top 5 Myths. |