Paternity Home DNA Collection Kit

Paternity testing answers the most common question, who is the father of the child and sometimes the mother of the child, needs to be confirmed. Also, adults may use a paternity test to confirm for themselves their biological father and mother. 3 DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA) is a unique genetic blueprint identifying each person, whose characteristics are matched during a paternity test, identifying the corresponding mother and father predominately accurate. 20 Prevalence of a paternity test bestows upon the father certain rights and legal responsibilities to the child including financial support: Pay for medical, childcare, recurring medical needs, and birth expenses whether the child is conceived during a marriage or outside of wedlock. A judge decides the monetary amount the biological father is responsible to pay. 3 Certain legal rights invariable to the biological father includes visitation determined by a court. 4 Also, the father provides input into decisions regarding the child. 5 According to Utah Voluntary Declaration of Paternity 'disestablishes' paternity, if a paternity test proves a husband is not the biological (or Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA1)) father of the child, when mother conceived the child by another man. 6 Each State has their own paternity laws, which may vary from other state laws. 2

Importance of a paternity test result confirms the biological father has relevant implications for the child: Knowledgeable for any inherited health concerns, entitled to father's benefits including inheritance rights, social security insurance, veteran's and other benefits, and maybe necessary to establish citizenship, if one parent was born in the United States. 5

A Declaration of Paternity (DOP, Recognition of Paternity (ROP), Paternity Establishment, Paternity Opportunity Program (POP), and A Simple Acknowledgment of Paternity (ASAP Program) 8) is legal document signed by both parents, decreeing the man is the legal father (married or unmarried father) without a court approval. "Signing a Declaration of Paternity is voluntary". 7 Certainly, paternity test identify the biological father of the child, thus supports the Declaration of Paternity or provide DNA proof another man is the actual father. One of the most publicized cases involved identifying the father of Anna Nichole Smith daughter Dannielynn. Paternity test established Larry Birhkead as the father to Danielynn, and disproved Howard K. Stern claiming to be the father. 9

Sorenson Genomics (www. sorensongenomics /1-800 -DNA -TYPE) a Utah - based genetics company: Announced in March 2008, initially sale first home DNA Paternity Collection Kit., available at Rite Aid Stores in California, Washington and Oregon. "Prior to the advent of this Identigene (October 2007 - "Sorenson Genonomics Announce Merger of its IDENTIGENE and GeneTree DNA Testing Business Units 18) retail store DNA kit, the generally accepted method of obtaining a DNA paternity test often required involvement from doctors and / or lawyers, weeks of waiting for results and a cost of multiple hundreds of dollars". 10 Paternity Collection DNA kit suggested retail price $29.99, plus $119 processing fee (lab fee) obtain the results. 11 Also, the kit is available more expensively purchased online from the website (These tests are court - admissible because the Sorenson Genomics verify and identifies the participants at a facility and overseas the samples taken. 15) valid in a court procedure and proven to be 99.9% accurate. 13 The kit contains consent forms, and cotton swabs to take cell samples from the inner cheek of the child, alleged father and mother (optional).11 Sorenson genomics recommends the mother should provide DNA samples: "Testing the mother's DNA increases the likelihood of a conclusive result for any DNA test - including DNA tests for paternity, siblings or grandparents". 14 After samples are taken, placed into enclosed plastic bags. Samples send to the laboratory by mail and results are available confidentially in three to five business days, via e-mail, postal mail, fax (10) or through a secure Web site. 11 Sorenson Genonmics laboratory is accredited by ISO (The International Organization for Standardization 12) and the American Association of Blood Banks (wide range of DNA testing services). 10. These organizations and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) inspect laboratories and ensure the quality of personnel are using confirmed scientific practices in the DNA testing services, upon receiving their accreditation. 16

Douglas Fogg chief operating officer of Indentigene said Home Paternity Collection kit will not be available for sale in New York State, requires a doctor's prescription or a court order for DNA testing. 19

Home Paternity test satisfies the curiosity or question who is the father of the child, however the validity of the home paternity test result not legally admissible in courts and not acceptable to government agencies. The concern of home paternity test does not provide proof or evidence regarding the chain of custody: The samples taken may have been altered present false paternity results. An accurate chain of custody process ensures a neutral third party (clinic or laboratory (Sorenson Genomics)) collects the samples at a clinical facility, positively identifies individual tested (Fingerprint, photograph or government issued ID), and samples are scrutinized carefully, during the DNA testing process. Also, a consent form is completed by each participant and a legal guardian would sign a minor's consent form. 17

References:

1.) DNA - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA

2.) Paternity Forms, Documents and Law - http://www.uslegalforms.com/paternity/

3.) Paternity - http://www.osbar.org/public/legalinfo/1142.htm

4.) Establishing Paternity Custody, Visitation, and Child Support - http://www.masslegalhelp.org/children-and-families/chapter9--paternity

5.) Paternity Establishment Frequent Asked Questions - http://www.ors.state.ut.us/faq_paternity.htm

6.) Parents: Frequently Asked Questions - http://www.paternitymatters.utah.gov/parents_faq.html

7.) Declaration of Paternity - http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/childsupport/Paternity.htm

8.) ALL ABOUT PATERNITY - http://www.dna-geneticconnections.com/paternity.html

9.). Larry Birkhead - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Birkhead

10.) Sorenson Genomics to Bring the First-Ever Retail DNA Test to Market - http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071126005139&newsLang=en

11.) Identigene DNA Paternity Test Available Over-the-Counter at Rite, Meijer Stores -

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/101986.php

12.) College of American Pathologists - http://www.cap.org/apps/cap.portal?_nfpb=true&cntvwrPtlt_actionOverride=%2Fportlets%2FcontentViewer%2Fshow&_windowLabel=cntvwrPtlt&cntvwrPtlt{actionForm.contentReference}=laboratory_accreditation%2Fiso%2Fiso_faq.html&_state=maximized&_pageLabel=cntvwr

13.) DNA Paternity Testing - http://www.dnatesting.com/paternity/index.php

14.) Why Test the Biological Mother? - http://www.dnatesting.com/resources/biologicalMother.php

15.) Who's the Daddy? Get a DNA test at the drugstore - http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2008/03/25/paternity_0325_web.html

16.) Choosing a Paternity Testing Company - http://www.paternity-answers.com/paternity-tips.html

17.) Chain of Custody - http://www.paternity-answers.com/chain-of-custody.html

18.) Sorenson Genomics - http://www.sorensongenomics.com/

19.) No more doubting who's daddy - http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/No_more_doubting_whos_the_daddy.html

20.) genetic DNA Paternity Test - http://www.craigmedical.com/DNA_Paternity_Testing.htm