A paternity test is a genetic analysis to establish a biological relationship between a father and his child. A dna paternity test can be performed by taking a sample of the cells of the alleged child and his parent. The result of this test is based on the comparison between the DNA of the father and the child. The paternity test is being used more and more. It is possible to do it easily at home and before the birth of the baby by doing a prenatal paternity test. Also, you can freely buy paternity test kits on the internet. This procedure can be done as part of a legal proceeding. How does a paternity test work, and what is its interest?

What is a paternity dna test for?

According to a study published in 2006 in the Lancet, in about 1 out of 25 cases, the father declared is not the biological father of the child. In the event of a dispute over parentage (if the child is not recognized by the father or when the parentage link is disputed, for example), parentage can result either from a judgment or from a mutual agreement. Also, parentage is associated with certain obligations, such as inheritance or alimony. Thus, requests for paternity tests are often made by women.

How is a paternity test performed?

A paternity test can be performed by taking a blood, hair or saliva sample (in the vast majority of cases). The buccal swab is used to rub the inside of the cheek to collect cells and saliva. This quick, non-invasive test then allows the laboratory to extract the DNA and compare the genetic fingerprints of the individuals involved. The turnaround time for obtaining the results of a DNA paternity test is quite short. The results are sent by e-mail or by mail to the person who requested the test. The results are treated as confidential.

How reliable is the paternity test?

Although the genomes of all human beings are very similar, there are small genetic variations that characterize individuals and can be passed on to their descendants. It is possible to compare these variations, called “polymorphisms”. About fifteen markers are generally sufficient to establish a relationship between two people, with almost 100% certainty. In an official laboratory, the results obtained by the paternity test are very reliable. If you have any doubts and would like to be reassured about your paternity, the paternity test is a foolproof solution. There are also other types of DNA tests, including maternity tests, genealogy tests and many others.