Opting for In-Home DNA Paternity Tests

In-home paternity tests are painless and can be done very quickly by using the buccal (cheek) swab method, whereas the conventional method uses blood samples to establish paternity. The swab has a special material coated on the end of it to allow the buccal cells to stick to the swab. This material can be extracted later for DNA testing. This easier to do process can be carried out at home in complete privacy, yet still provides the same results with same accuracy that a blood sample DNA test offers.

What is DNA?

Deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly referred to as DNA, is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and is present in every single cell inside of the human body. Half of the DNA from the father and the other half from the mother are combined to make a unique pattern. This pattern can be analyzed to identify genetic inheritance. All human beings have various genes corresponding to different biological traits, such as eye color, height and so on.

Using this unique pattern, inheritance can be traced and paternity established. This is done by collecting samples from the father, mother and the child in question. If a certain amount of matching genetic codes are found in both the father and the child, then paternity is established. Today these tests have an accuracy of 99.9% to prove that a man is the father of a child; when it comes to proving that he is not a biological father, the tests are 100% accurate.

Legal or Peace of mind - What is the purpose?

The need for a legal DNA test arises when there is a dispute that needs to be resolved in a court of law. A legal DNA test may be required to resolve family disputes like inheritance cases, child custody, child support and visitation.

If the reason to conduct a paternity test is not legal but for personal information, in-home tests (also referred as peace of mind tests) will suffice, as the results will be the same. The extra cost incurred in a legal paternity test for the chain of custody process is eliminated in this case, whereas that process is mandatory for the results to be accepted in a court of law.

Is DNA testing expensive?

The complexities involved in the scientific procedures of DNA extraction and marking, combined with high cost leads many people to think that a paternity test is out of their reach. But this has changed in the recent years. Advances in technology, coupled with the knowledge available in genetics and process improvement in DNA testing, has made it possible for everyday people to establish paternity easily, and even help solve criminal cases.

The in-home testing kits are provided free of cost, including postage-paid return mailers, by many companies. The only other expense is the laboratory's service fee for processing the samples. An additional chain of custody fee is required if it is a legal paternity test.

What should I know before choosing a Test lab?

Apart from costs, the choice of a DNA testing laboratory must be based on the certain parameters such as the working staff experience, meeting the standard testing procedures and accreditation from various agencies or working committees. The Parentage Committee of the American Association of Blood Banks or the AABB is one such organization that certifies the labs they associate with meet testing standard requirements.