| DNA paternity testing in its purest form is the | | | | 1. Has the DNA testing facility been accredited by a |
| application of DNA technology to provide information | | | | validated external body such as the American |
| about the parentage of an individual (usually a child). | | | | Association of Blood Banks (AABB). If the answer is |
| The mother of the child is rarely disputed, and most of | | | | no, do not have your testing done by this company, |
| the time DNA testing is requested to inform the likely | | | | you may not be able to rely on the results. |
| father of a child. | | | | 2. Does the company carrying out the DNA testing |
| DNA is inherited from our parents, with half coming | | | | have a thorough track-record in this area of work, and |
| from the mother, and the other half from the father. | | | | have they proved their technology in court? Be wary |
| This pattern of inheritance allows the opportunity | | | | of companies that sub-contract their testing. DNA |
| where the mother of the child is not disputed, to | | | | profile interpretation can be a tricky business, and there |
| produce a putative DNA profile of the biological father. | | | | is a lot at stake when you commission a DNA test, |
| The process is relatively simple in that the final DNA | | | | and you want reassurance on the reliability of your |
| profile of the child is composed of a series of bands | | | | service provider. |
| which can only come from the two parents. If the | | | | 3. Is the company you are planning to use an |
| mother's bands are deducted from the child profile the | | | | accredited laboratory or merely a broker? Brokers are |
| remainder must come from the biological father. Any | | | | simply in this game to make money, and have no |
| male that may consider himself the father can have a | | | | interest in the quality or the impact of this life changing |
| DNA profile produced and compared against the | | | | technology. Avoid them irrespective of the tempting |
| remaining bands in the child's profile. | | | | pricing they may offer you. |
| There can only be two outcomes from this type of | | | | 4. What degree of certainty does the company |
| comparison. The first is a 'no-match' scenario where | | | | provide in relation to the results of the tests? An |
| the remaining bands in the child's profile could not have | | | | exclusion should be 100% with an inclusion at, at least |
| come from the sample obtained from the alleged | | | | 99.99% confidence levels. These are the figures that |
| father. This is known as exclusion and eliminates the | | | | are expected in a court of law. |
| possibility of this individual being the biological father of | | | | 5. Does the internal quality standard require duplication |
| the child. The second is a 'match' scenario where the | | | | of all results before they are reported to the |
| remaining bands in the child's profile could all be | | | | customer? This is an industry standard requirement |
| accounted for by comparison with the alleged father. If | | | | which is often overlooked by some of the 'cheaper' |
| this is the case the significance of the match needs to | | | | DNA testing providers. |
| be assessed by a DNA interpretation expert who will | | | | If the answer to any of these questions is unclear, my |
| provide a degree of certainty associated with the | | | | strong advice is to find an alternative provider. You |
| likelihood that the alleged male is the biological father of | | | | simply do not want to trust such an important piece of |
| the child. | | | | work to a company that does not guarantee a top |
| Before you commission any Paternity DNA testing you | | | | quality product, with excellent customer care back-up. |
| should be sure you have clear answers to the | | | | If you want to find out more about DNA Paternity |
| following 5 key questions: | | | | Testing click on the links in the author section below. |