What is a paternity test?

There are many circumstances which necessitate a paternity test. A night of partying can often lead to altered judgment and bad choices; even a monogamous relationship can still experience contraceptive failure; rape victims who become pregnant and must prove paternity to the judicial system also have the need for paternity testing. No matter the reason, paternity testing is a necessary facet of our lives. Children need their fathers either to parent or to assist in the financial support that will contribute to their successes later in life. People can say a child looks like the alleged father, that they have the same mannerisms or features, but the truth is that the only way to know the paternity of a child (with 99.9% accuracy) is a DNA test.

What is the test all about?

The most common form of DNA testing is Paternity testing- This is a scientific way to use genetic material in our body (cells) to establish the relationship between two individuals. In simple terms, this test provides genetic proof that a biological link exists between two people, most often a father and child. There are other methods of DNA testing, which can be in the form of a clinical lab test such as ABO blood group typing, human leukocyte antigens and even the analysis of an assortment of enzymes and proteins in the body. However, the two most prominent methods for DNA testing or 'genetic finger printing' are as follows:

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)

These forms of DNA testing involve DNA samples of both the child and the parent to check the proximity of their similarity. Sixteen genetic markers are matched up, and the end result of this DNA testing (which is also known as the 'probability of parentage') is listed as zero when the man is not the biological father of a child. The same result is approximately 99.9% when the man is the biological father of a child.

Uses of paternity test:

There is absolutely no doubt that a paternity test is of great use to all parties involved. The benefits of this test are varied depending on perspective, but they are quite important as they pertain to the rights of the child. Following are a few instances when DNA testing can be essential:

• Filing for property rights when you are the child of a woman who was previously denied her rights as a wife. This situation often arises when you are a married woman who was left to fend for yourself while married. This is also the case when the man in question does not choose to acknowledge you or the child as being part of his life.
• During a custody battle when the woman has had previous affairs. In such a case, the man might ask for a paternity test to make sure that he does not end up taking care of someone else's child via child support or developing a close personal relationship with the child.
• Rape victims and their offspring are entitled to certain rights and benefits under the law and often a simple DNA test can help to convict the perpetrator of the crime.
• Young people who have sexual relationships are often not mature enough to deal with the implications of raising a child. The responsibility is more likely to be equally shared between the two parties and their families when the alleged father has been established biologically as the father of the child, which also helps to strengthen the bond between the father and child.
• There is another condition which is called reverse paternity testing wherein we use similar technology to establish relationship when there is no father available for testing. This is primarily used in order to determine relationship between the child and that of his other suspected kin, like cousins, when the father is deceased.

With the latest research and technology, even DNA testing has become 'smart' and is widely known to be the most sophisticated means of determining the paternity of a child. It is a very useful method to establish paternity, maternity, grandparantage, sibilingship, and so on. There are however, certain conditions where the paternity test may turn out to have 0-75% accuracy such as Chimerism (Chimersism is a rare disorder in which a person has more than one set of DNA) and of course, paternity fraud-wherein the Father will use a sample collected from another party in place of his own. This is why such testing must be done by competent and expertly trained professionals. Repeated testing can still determine the truth should such an unlikely scenario arise. The genetic testing of the cells is indeed a milestone of technology and is priceless not only for determining paternity for legal purposes, but also in restoring the full rights of the child involved.

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Types of DNA Testing

Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is that vital part of any living being on Earth which contains genetic codes for that individual. Each person’s DNA is unique from the DNA of others. In fact, even identical twins have different DNA. Under normal circumstances, the DNA of an organism or plant is not to be meddled with or brought into question. But sometimes, special circumstances arise which require us to perform DNA testing and proceed to further research.

Importance of DNA testing:

When it comes to the testing of DNA, it is acknowledged as a highly specialized field as even a small mistake can put the society and mankind in great peril. There are a myriad of uses of DNA testing; a few of them are enumerated below:

• DNA nanotechnology
• Bioinformatics
• Genetic engineering
• History and anthropology
• Forensics

The above mentioned are broad categories in which the testing of DNA plays a very important part. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the gravity of the task and deal with it accordingly.

Types of DNA testing:

Mitochondrial analysis: This technique for DNA sampling involves the mitochondria of the cells and is used in cases of degraded samples. Since the mitochondrial DNA is obtained from the maternal side, it is often used to establish relationship with the maternal side of the family. One of the famous cases where the technique was used is the case of a certain Anna Anderson claiming to be the Russian princess Anastasia Romanov.

STR analysis: Based on the PCR technique, it uses short tandem repeats (STR) to determine the sample of DNA.

DNA family relationship analysis: This technique uses the PCR technology and mainly hinges on the availability of junk DNA on almost any part of the body. There are certain types of DNA that are for the guidance and working of particular organs. The remaining DNA is called ‘Junk DNA’. This is used in DNA testing to establish relationships between siblings, etc.

PCR analysis: Polymerase chain reaction or the PCR technique has helped mankind tremendously as it took DNA sampling to a whole new level. It gave the testing team the power to unearth vital information about a person during the time of profiling. Now, a lot more information could be recovered from even a small quantity of sample.

Y-chromosome analysis: To determine the paternal side of the family, this technique is quite useful as Y chromosomes come only through the father of a child. This method of DNA testing was used in the famous Thomas Jefferson – Sally Hemings controversy.

AmpFLP: Amplified fragment length polymorphism or the AmpFLP based technique was invariably faster than the RFLP analysis and is still used as a means to do DNA sampling in low-income countries. This is because the entire set up to test DNA is low cost and therefore a very viable option for such countries.

RFLP analysis: The acronym stands for Restriction fragment length polymorphism and this is one of the first few techniques to sample DNA. After this, came the Southern blot technique. The former was discarded as it required non-degraded samples in great amount. The latter was not practiced much because the entire process was difficult to begin with.

Today, in extreme cases of determining paternity, or when a person is claiming to be someone else, these are perfect examples of situations where DNA sampling or DNA testing is the only method to determine the true answers. These scenarios arise when there is nasty divorce, custody battle, or when a property settlement issue comes up. A case in point is that of the Pakistani cricketing legend who acknowledged his love child only after the paternity test was able to establish identity and provide proof of paternity.

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DNA Testing: Know your ancestry

In the medical field, DNA testing has important implications- as it is often used by people who would like know about their paternity or ancestry. Usually researchers and forensic lab people use this service to find out about a person's identity as well as their relationship to siblings. In the current scenario, DNA testing provides information about the ancestry of the person or their relationship with particular people. DNA testing is used by people from all walks of life for many different reasons and under diverse circumstances, whether it is about evaluating the relationship of the people or exploring the ancestry of the people. Therefore, when DNA testing is administered by the experts, you can receive an accurate result.

Most DNA collections done at home or by people who are inexperienced are flawed. This may be due to improper collection, tampering, storage, or handling. To have a DNA test that is accurate and verifiable, it is advisable to see DNA testing experts who have been highly trained in their field.

However, it is not difficult to accumulate the information about the best place to conduct your DNA testing.

There are many labs available offering 'accurate results', but you have to research thoroughly to find one that will do the job properly. Initially, you can prepare a list of expected services. Here are few services you should look for when you are shopping for DNA testing:

• Instant services (Testing, making report and delivering report) to the people who apply for testing of DNA
• Assurance of accurate results with minimum errors (ie:99.9% accuracy with a buccal swab)
• There should be a highly expert and professional team to conduct DNA testing
• The DNA lab should perform not only one test, but verify the result by running the test twice for the highest level of accuracy
• The lab must be accredited by a legitimate authority
• It is better to have options of confidentiality and anonymity. If the applicant wants to conceal his/her identity then the lab must have a service to hide his/her identity from the public.
• The lab should have certified DNA collectors who are knowledgeable and thorough

These are the services that you might expect from the lab service providers. However, there are some other factors depending on location.

• The charges of such testing must be nominal
• There should be personalized services so that the applicants feel secure
• You can check the reviews and testimonials of the previous users who have already used the service of that particular lab.

Aspects of Testing DNA:

There are multiple areas that DNA testing is incorporated such as:

• Prenatal testing
• Paternity
• Sibling relationship
• Twin zygosity
• Maternity testing and others such as Ancestry testing

All these factors and details contribute to you receiving the best service from the best DNA laboratory. There are several labs available that properly follow all the guidelines described above. Such labs highly prioritize the customer satisfaction concept. They provide comprehensive testing services for the public. DNA testing should be an area of focus, even if the lab provides other types of vital testing.

A DNA lab should assure people that their results will be available within a certain time frame (typically 5-7 business days) Moreover, such reliable labs usually offer extra services that set them apart from less reputable laboratories. These labs offer coupons so that clients can enjoy discount pricing and save substantial amount of money. They should enable people to make appointments with the professional experts instantly in order to have a consultation about their issues. Overall, this type of lab should encompass all significant features that help people in getting a flawless and reliable report. The accuracy of the report is an indispensable aspect of DNA testing. The best outcomes will be for people who find the most knowledgeable laboratories who embody the qualities listed above.

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