DNA Paternity Testing: How Is It Performed and Its Accuracy
A deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) paternity test allows you to determine whether a person is the biological father of a particular child. Since the test is dependent on the genetic code of the people involved, it returns highly accurate results to the point where they are recognized in courts of law.
A paternity test requires DNA samples from both the alleged father and the child in question. These samples are then tested in a laboratory setting, where it’s determined whether they prove a parent-child relationship or not.
Before you start searching on the web for paternity testing near me, it’s essential to know how the test is performed and how accurate it is. The following information guides you through the associated process.
Table of Contents
TogglePaternity Testing Near Me: What You Need to Know
Before taking a DNA paternity test, it’s essential to understand that it can occur in different settings.
For instance, if you are taking a paternity test only for personal knowledge and information, you can take the samples at home using a testing kit. You can then send the samples to a designated facility and wait for your results.
However, if you take the test for legal reasons such as a child support or custody case, you need to take the samples while being present at a designated facility. This process also involves an approved witness and the availability of additional documentation such as IDs and photographs. A reliable facility can fulfill these additional requirements.
How Is the Test Performed?
Apart from wondering how to find paternity testing near me, you might be thinking about how it’s performed. Fortunately, the answer is not difficult to comprehend.
A paternity test is performed by collecting DNA samples from the child and the alleged father. For a paternity test, the DNA is usually collected through a blood sample or buccal swab (which is a sample taken from the inside of your cheek).
After the samples are taken, they are sent to a lab facility. The DNA and its genetic code is then tested under laboratory settings using special equipment. Once the technicians get the results, they provide them in the form of a report for your reference. Depending upon your samples, the duration of this process can range from 1-4 weeks. Some labs also offer faster results.
In case you order a DNA paternity test for legal reasons, the results report also contains additional documentation such as a witness reference arranged by the laboratory where you took the test.
How Accurate is a Paternity Test?
Similar to a fingerprint, a person’s DNA is highly unique to them. Through proper testing, you can match a DNA sample to an individual with complete accuracy.
But unlike a fingerprint, a DNA sample shares specific markers with blood relatives such as parents, siblings, and cousins. When an expert looks for particular markers between reference samples, they can easily find if they share a parent-child relationship.
Keeping this in mind, if you are looking for a definite answer to paternity claims, you can effortlessly search for a facility with paternity testing near me.
