Paternity Tests on the Rise

Daytime talk shows have men and women on almost every day in confrontation of the paternity of a child. Determining the correct father allows a host of emotional, legal and parental questions to be answered so all parties involved can move on with a more stable future. Paternity testing has also been in the news lately as in the case of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter. Paternity testing has been on the rise in the last couple of years due to its availability.

The word paternity means the state of being a father, paternal descent. Paternity is established when a paternity testing laboratory uses genetic testing methods DNA test to prove legally a biological father or a mother's alleged claim.

Most states have laws that require an unmarried couple to fill out a form called Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) to legally establish who the father is. If the couple is unmarried and the mother has not been married in the preceding 300 days, no father will be listed until the AOP form is completed. If the mother is married to someone other than the father or she has not been divorced for over 300 days, her husband is presumed the father.

Types of Paternity Tests:

Postnatal DNA Testing (after the child is born).

· Blood collection and testing.

· Buccal swap collection and testing. (a cheek swab)

· Umbilical cord collection and testing.

· Collection of other samples and testing (semen, tissue, hair, etc.)

Prenatal DNA Testing (before the child is born)

· Amniocentesis: performed in the second trimester it can be done anywhere between the 14^th - 20^th weeks of pregnancy. The doctor uses ultrasound to guide a thin needle into the uterus through the abdomen. The needle takes out a small amount of amniotic fluid and then is tested.

· Choronic Villus Sampling (CVS): a thin needle or tube is inserted in the vagina, through the cervix as it is guided by ultrasound by a doctor to obtain the choronic villi. They are little finger like pieces of tissue that are attached to the walls of the uterus. The fetus and the choronic villus come from the same fertilized egg and have the same genetic makeup. It can be done from the 10^th - 13^th weeks of pregnancy.

The cost for paternity testing depends on which type of procedure is performed. The price can range anywhere from $250.00 to $2,000.00. The prenatal tests often cost more than testing after the baby is born. Some places that offer low cost tests should be approached cautiously because many of them are not court approved and can only be used for "curiosity testing." If the DNA test is going to be used in court it should be done at a court approved testing area.

DNA Paternity testing is very dependable. A biological father's claim can be established with a 99% or higher probability. The genetic profile of a DNA test follows a strict chain of command procedures and this allows for legal admissibility in court. It typically takes about 3 - 10 working days to complete testing.

Financial support and visitation rights can be assisted with the help of paternity testing. By determining the identity of the father, the courts can establish financial support for the child until they are of legal age. Paternity testing can also help establish visitation rights for the father that wants to see his child.