DNA technology has developed rapidly over the past several years and people are more aware of its functions and capabilities. A single paternity test cost should set you back around $70 meaning it is affordable to a lot of people. It has also become practically easy to do as all you need to do is simply go to a pharmacy or drugstore and buy the testing kit.
However, despite how practical DNA kits have become, there still exist several wrong understandings on how DNA testing is conducted, and more public awareness is required to remedy the existing misconceptions.
If you intend to do a DNA paternity test in the recent future, here are five tips you should follow to successfully perform the paternity test procedure.
Selecting An Accurate Paternity Test
At present, there is no existing paternity test proven to be more efficient than the 99.9% accuracy score provided by DNA testing. As for blood screening, it can only prove that a particular person is not the father of a child and not if they are indeed the father of the child.
However, in a situation where the father is not alive or otherwise not available to do the test, then the paternity test should not be an option. Only testing at a DNA lab can be used to establish a paternal relationship through the DNA testing of the father’s relatives or other children. However, the paternity test cost could be much higher as compared to the conventional one.
Reflect on the Potential Aftermath of the Discovery
Before taking the test, you need to consider what your reaction will be depending on the potential findings from the paternity test and how you will be using those results.
If you want to take the test for legal reasons, you should know that home DNA test results are not admissible in court and will therefore not influence any court decision made on child support, custody, or inheritance rights. However, if it is simply for your peace of mind then you should by all means feel free to proceed with the procedure at home.
Using A DNA Sample from the Mother of the Child
Involving the mother’s DNA in the test should increase the accuracy of the results especially in a situation where gene mutation is involved. It’s worth noting that in most cases, the father will require consent from the mother to do a DNA test.
Adhere to the DNA Kit Instructions Carefully
A paternity test kit should have detailed instructions on how you should conduct the swabbing as well as how the swabs should be handled before and after the DNA is collected. Make sure you read through the directions provided before swabbing to avoid compromising the test results.
Use an Accredited DNA Laboratory
The results of a paternity test tend to be life-altering especially in situations that involve legal proceedings and therefore you should make sure that you trust an accredited lab to provide you with accurate results. Naturally, you’ll want the lab to handle your samples appropriately and for industry experts to do the DNA analysis accurately.
Final Thoughts
DNA paternity tests are very essential in finding out the biological parentage of a child. The test is designed to use a DNA profile from each individual involved and comparing the data to find out whether there is a match among their genes. If you’re about to take one you should know that it is okay to be a little anxious but the tips above should work well to settle your nerves.
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