Paternity Testing: Why You Need It & What It Tells You

In movies and TV shows, complex crimes are solved with the help of DNA analysis. DNA, it seems, holds all kind of answers to pressing questions. Though these narrative devices make for an interesting plot, the science behind real-world genetic testing is a little more complex. So, while DNA paternity testing can answer questions about who the father of a child actually is, it is important to know what exactly these tests can tell you.

Why People Opt for Paternity Testing

DNA paternity testing is sought primarily by mothers, who need to prove the exact paternity of their child, and by adults, who want to reconnect with estranged or unknown fathers. People seeking out paternity testing services generally want to:

• Secure necessary child support expenses
• Guarantee inheritance and other legal rights given to blood relatives
• Accurately name a new baby
• Precisely name a father from a list of possible parents
• Establish ties with people and family members who are lost, unknown, or estranged

These and other reasons for paternity testing are very important to people seeking these services, because they seem to hold the answers to all kinds of sensitive concerns. You can always learn more at GTLDNA.

What Paternity Testing Can Actually Tell You

When genetic paternity tests are properly performed, they typically meet a legal standard; this means that they can be used in a legal proceeding or in other legally binding situations. For instance, a paternity test can be used to prove that an alleged father is the biological father of a child during a case on child support. Before you opt for just any paternity test, you should dig a little deeper to make sure the tests, offered by a particular company, are known to meet the legal standard required for such designations.

A paternity test, like this, requires a sample from the mother, the baby, and each possible father. These multiple samples are required to get an exact picture of the baby’s genetic heritage. The sample taken from the fetus or infant will be compared to both, the mother and each possible father, so that the relevant portions are correctly identified by the analyst.

The paternity test, you have conducted as an adult, can tell you which man is your real father, but only if there are other samples to compare your sample to. For instance, if you have a group of three possible fathers, then you will need a sample from each one to conduct an accurate test. Without enough of correct samples taken from each possible father, a comparison cannot be made.

If you are not able to afford multiple tests, then you must deduce which of the three possible fathers you are most likely related to. You might need to rely on certain genetically linked physical traits, such as a cleft chin or dominant eye color. Unless there is a sample for analysts to compare your own sample against, it is very difficult to definitively prove that an alleged father is the real father.

According to a recent study by Home DNA, children in foster care and awaiting adoption are on the rise, and the more parents choose to give their children up, the less these kids will be able to recollect any family health history, which throughout the years have helped predispose a variety of diseases.

It is important to understand that an accurate paternity test requires multiple samples in order to be considered correct. If you are seeking a paternity test to legally name someone as a child’s father, then you have to make certain the testing service you select is qualified to give legally admissible results.