| Whilst the awareness about DNA Paternity | | | | qualifiedgeneral practitioner or nurse) |
| testinghas greatly increased throughout | | | | who will be responsible to verify |
| most of the world, there is still a lot | | | | andauthenticate the samples. The actual |
| ofinformation about the test that is not | | | | result of the paternity in terms of |
| known. | | | | thebiological relationshipwill not |
| The following are the five top things to | | | | differ. |
| know abouta DNA Paternity Test: | | | | 3. Always select a properly |
| 1. Most accurate method of | | | | accreditedlaboratory |
| determiningbiological relationships | | | | Always chose to do your paternity test |
| A DNA Paternitytest is the most accurate | | | | through a company that uses an |
| way of determining a biological | | | | ISO17025 and/or AABB accredited |
| relationshipbetween an alleged father | | | | laboratory. This will ensure the quality |
| mother and their child. Whilst in the | | | | andaccuracy of the results. Also make |
| past bloodgrouping analysis was used as | | | | sure that when report the result a full |
| a screening method, the relevance of | | | | DNAprofile is provided for the 16 loci |
| this test hasbeen greatly reduced as the | | | | analysed, as well as the |
| level of accuracy of this type of test | | | | statisticalprobability of paternity. A |
| is lowcompared to the result of a DNA | | | | simple Yes/No answer should not be |
| test. A DNA paternity test will provide | | | | deemedacceptable. |
| 100%certainty of exclusion and 99.9%+ | | | | 4. Paternity tests can be performed |
| probability of inclusion. | | | | withoutthe sample of the mother |
| 2. Difference between an At-Home | | | | To perform a DNA Paternity test the |
| Paternity | | | | sample of the |
| Test and a Legal Paternity Test | | | | Mother is not necessary to obtain an |
| The difference between an At-Home | | | | accurate result. However, when |
| Paternity Test | | | | available,it is always recommended that |
| (also called Curiosity Test) and a Legal | | | | the sample of the Mother is also |
| Paternity Test is not the actual | | | | provided. Only inspecific cases will the |
| resultbut the way in which the sample | | | | sample of the mother provide more |
| collection is performed. For an At-Home | | | | accurate results suchin the case of gene |
| Paternity test, a home dna kit is | | | | mutation. Many companies offer to test |
| normally sent to the requesting party. | | | | the mother at noextra charge. |
| The kitwill normally include i) oral | | | | 5. DNA can be obtained from a diverse |
| swabs to take the saliva sample, ii) | | | | rangeof samples |
| documentationto provide relevant | | | | It is possible to obtain DNA from a |
| information including consent iii) | | | | number of othersources such as hair, |
| instructions and termsand conditions of | | | | blood, semen and items such as cigarette |
| sale. The sample is taken by the parties | | | | butts and atoothbrush. Whilst the |
| themselves who areparticipating in the | | | | current standard is to use an oral swab |
| test. In a Legal DNA Paternity Test, the | | | | to collect salivasamples, in cases where |
| sample collectionmust follow a strict | | | | a person may not be physically present, |
| chain of custody procedure. All samples | | | | able or willingto donate a sample, then |
| need to becollected and documented by a | | | | alternate samples can be obtained. |
| independent third party (normally a | | | | |